SHIFTS IN OCCUPATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES In discussing the trade and commerce of the United States primary emphasis has been placed upon the production of com modities, principally of the manufacturing and extractive indus tries, and in the distribution of such products. Relative changes in the production of various groups of products, and especially the value of production, have had grave social and economic con sequences, typified by industrial and commercial cycles during the last 5o years.
Accompanying the great industrial changes, partly cyclical and partly new industrial shifts, there have been important changes in the occupations of the workers in American industries. As new occupations develop, old ones decline and changes in productive machinery are a chronic source of occupational difficulties. The approach to industrial maturity, in which there is somewhat less emphasis on the production of capital goods and more upon the production of consumer's goods, has likewise caused important occupational changes. Normally, we think of agriculture and manufacturing as constituting the bulk of employment in the United States, whereas as a matter of fact they absorbed almost exactly one-half of the gainful workers in 1930, according to the Bureau of the Census. Out of approximately 48,830,000 gainful workers io years old and over in 1930, about 10,470,000 were employed in agriculture and 14,110,000 in manufacturing and mechanical industries. From the point of view of employment, the old and basic industries supplying necessities and capital goods are standing still or declining, whereas other occupations such as distribution and services are increasing both absolutely and rela tively. In the case of agriculture, for example, there were ap proximately 2,000,000 less workers employed in 1930 than in 1910. Expressed in terms of percentages about 32% of all gainful workers were in agriculture in 1910 and only about 21% in 1930. In the extraction of minerals, those gainfully occupied were al most at a standstill during the 20 years,—i.e., about 965,000 in 1910 and 984,00o in 1930. In terms of percentages there was a decline from about 2.5% of the total workers to 2% in the 20 year period. On the other hand, manufacturing and mechanical industries, in spite of the important decline in the hand trades, showed a large increase during the 20 years from about 10,656,000 in 1910 to 14,110,000 in 1930, or an increase from about 28% of all workers to 29% in the 20 years. Transportation showed a similar growth in the number of workers employed. From about 2,665,000 in 1910 there was a gradual increase to about 3,843,00o in 1930, or from 7% to 8% of the total in the 20 years. Trade or merchandizing showed still greater increase from about 3,630,000 —from about 3,756,000 in 1910 to in 1930, or approxi mately o% of the total workers in each year. Clerical occupa tions showed a decided increase from 1,718,000 in 1910 to 4,025, 000 in 1930, or from 4.5% of the total in 1910 to 8.2% in 193o. Those engaged in public service increased from 431,000 in 1910 to 856,000 in 1930.
In Table IX there is shown the number of gainful workers in the United States 1 o years old and over by 1 o occupational groups for the years 1910, 1920 and 1930. The percentages of the total workers in each group to the total for all occupations are also shown.
The occupational figures by industrial groups given in Table IX conceal many plus and minus variations for individual occupa tions. Some figures on the more important trades are of interest in this connection. Carpenters more than held their own in the number of workers during 3o years. There was a gradual growth from about 602,00o in 1900 to 817,000 in 191 o ; 887,000 in and 929,000 in 1930.
Brick and stone-masons, however, gained little, if any, in num bers during the 3o years. From 161,00o in 1900 there was an in crease to 169,000 in 1910, and a decline to 131,000 in 1920, then an increase again to 171,000 in 193o. Dressmakers and tailors gradually declined in the 3o years from a total of about 557,00o in 1900 to about 327,000 in 1930.
Railroad labourers, including construction work, declined from about 540,000 in 1910 to 432,00o in 1930. Chauffeurs and truck drivers increased from about 45,000 in 1910 to 971,000 in 1930, during which time there was a decline in the number of team sters from 444,000 in 1910 to iii,000 in 1930.
All of the foregoing occupational figures necessarily exclude the unemployed in each of these occupations. There are no relia ble figures readily available as to the number of unemployed workers trained in the occupations listed in Table IX, but with the decline in relative importance of the agricultural and capital goods industries, including railway operation and construction, and the added emphasis upon the service industries, especially in trade and the professions where special training is required for employment, it would appear that an important percentage of the adult unemployed population may not be restored to their old occupations.
in 1910 to 6,081,00o in 1930, or a relative increase from 9.5% to 12.5% . Professional workers increased from 1,71I ,000 in 1910 to 3,254,000 in 1930, or percentage-wise from 4.5% to 6.7% of the total workers in the 20 years. Domestic and personal service grew approximately in the same proportion as the total workers, The average value of the product of wage earners employed in all manufacturing industries in 1899 was about $2,492. In 1929 this figure had advanced to $8,195, but declined to $5,279 in 1933. By 1937, however, the average value had increased to $7,085.