Conditions of labor in American industries : a summarization of the results of recent investigations

Chapter I.— The Labor Force Page

The Racial Composition of Industrial Workers ... i

The Native White American i

The Foreign-born Wage-earners 2

The Germans 3

Wage-earners from Austria-Hungary .... 3

The Poles and the Italians 4

The "War Order" Industries 4

Racial Distribution in Industries 5

Extent of Trade-Union Membership 11

Size and Variety of Trade-Union Organization . 11

Growth in Union Membership 18

Proportion of Workers Organized 19

Women in Industry 20

The Employment of Children -25

CHAPTER IL— WAGES AND EARNINGS

Weekly Wages of Male Workers 29

Wages of Workers of Different Races .... 38

Wages in Various Industries 40

Weekly Wages of Female Workers 43

Differences in Women's Wages According to Industry 47

The Difference in Wages of Men and Women Workers 57

Annual Earnings of Wage-workers 61

Recent Increases in Wage Rates ....... 69 vi CONTENTS

Chapter Iii— Loss In Working Time Page

The Wage-earner's Loss in Working Time .... 74

General Statistics and Statements 76

Statistics for Specific Industries 81

Statistics for Specific Trades and Occupations . 93

The Extent of Unemployment 100

CHAPTER IV.— CONDITIONS CAUSING IRREGULAR EMPLOYMENT Analysis of the Causes of Loss in Working Time, or

Unemployment 117

Evolutionary Changes Afifecting Employment . . .119 Changes in Industrial Structure and Methods . .120 Changes in Demand for Labor According to

Changes in Demand for Labor According to

Locality 123

Changes in Demand for Labor Due to the Introduction of Machinery and New Processes 126

Changes in Organization of Industry . . .130 Changes in the Quantity and Character of the

Labor Supply 131

Variations in the Demand for Labor Due to Fluctuations and Irregularities in Industry . . .137

Fluctuations, Cyclical 139

Fluctuations, Seasonal ........ 141

Irregular Employment 152

Conditions Determining the Worker's Ability to Grasp or Retain the Opportunity to be Employed

which Industry Offers 164

Effects of Unemployment 169

CONTENTS

Vll

CHAPTER v.— WORKING CONDITIONS PAGE

Hours of Labor 176

The Trend Toward a Shorter Working Day . .176 The Working Day in the Principal Industries . .183

Industrial Accidents 192

Occupational Accident Hazards 194

Causes of Industrial Accidents 197

Nature of Injuries 203

Economic Significance of Industrial Accidents . . 207

Hazards from Harmful Substances 212

Insanitary Conditions in Places of Work . . . .217 Profit-sharing and Bonus Plans . . . . . . . 220

Employers' Welfare Work 227

Labor and Scientific Management 232

CHAPTER VL— THE WAGE-EARNER'S FAMILY

Annual Incomes of Wage-working Families . » . 246 Distribution of Wage-working Families According to Income 249

Distribution of Wage- working Families of Different Races According to Income .... 249 Differences in Family Income According to Geographic Divisions 250

Differences in Family Income According to Industry 251

Sources of Family Income 253

Expenditures of Wage- working Families . . .271

CHAPTER VII.— LIVING CONDITIONS The Diet of Wage- working Families 283

Housing Conditions . 291

Living Arrangements 295

Ownership of Homes 302

Community Environment 305 viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER VIIL— THE WAGE-EARNER'S HEALTH

PAGE

The Prevalence of Sickness Among Wage-earners. . 315 The Greater Prevalence of Disease Among Industrial Workers 317

Occupational Disease Hazards 321

Harmful Substances ; Metals, Dusts, Gases, Vapors

and Fumes 323

Harmful Conditions in Places of Employment . . 323 Working Conditions which Cause Excessive

Fatigue 325

Morbidity According to Occupation .... 328 Mortality According to Occupation ..... 329

Irregularity of Employment and Health 330

Unhealthful Living Conditions . 334

Inadequate Diet . . . . 334

Bad Housing Conditions 335

Effects of Unfavorable Community Environment

upon Health 33^

The Employment of Women 342

Poverty and Disease 344

CHAPTER IX.— THE ADEQUACY OF WAGES AND EARNINGS Adequacy of Eg^rnings of Male Workers to Support

Families 357

The Adequacy of Women's Wages 3^3

The Adequacy of Family Income 366

The Point of Adequate Subsistence 3^9

Studies of Minimum Standards of Family Income Z7^

TheWorkingman'sFamily and Higher Living Cost. . 377

Index 385