More than 1 out of 5 women but only 1 out of 14 men workers is a service worker. Three-fourths of the women and virtually all of the men service workers are employed in occupations other than private household work.

Unemployment.--Unemployment rates are consistently higher for women than for men, for teenagers than for adults, and for Negroes than for whites:

Earnings.--Women's annual earnings are substantially lower than those of men. Much of the difference is accounted for by the fact that women are more likely than men to have only part-time and/or part-year jobs. But even among workers fully employed the year round, women's median earnings are only about three-fifths those of men--$4,457 and $7,664, respectively, in 1968. This gap reflects primarily the differences in the occupational distribution of women and men and in the types and levels of jobs held within each occupation.

:

Median wage or salary incomes of year-round full-time women workers in selected major occupation groups in 1968 were as follows:

Contributions to family income.--The contributions of working wives are of crucial importance where they raise family income above the poverty level or from a low to a middle range. Cnly 3 percent of all. husband-wife families had incomes below $3,000 in 1963 when the wife was a worker; 10 percent, when she was not.

Among all working wives, the median contribution to family income in 1958 was more than one-fourth; among those who worked year round full time, three-eighths.

OUTLOOK FOR WOMEN WORKERS

Shortages of skilled workers in many professional and technical, clerical, and service occupations provide excellent opportunities for qualified women workers. Legislation enacted during the past decade barring discrimination in employment on the basis of sex should open up new opportunities for women to train for and enter more diversified jobs and to advance to jobs of higher skill level.

New job opportunities, advances in the educational attainment of women, greater longevity of women, and increased use of household appliances and convenience foods all point to a continuation of the trend toward increased labor force participation of women if the American economy continues its present rate of growth.

Note.--Figures are from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Charts by Westinghouse Electric Corp.

[U.S. Dept. of Labor, Women's Bureau, August 1968]

FACT SHEET ON EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF NONWHITE WOMEN Nonwhite women and men have made significant progress in raising their level of educational attainment over the last several decades. The median' years of school completed by nonwhite women and men 25 years of age and over in March 1967 were 9.8 years and 8.9 years, respectively. The comparable medians in April 1940 were 6.1 years and 5.4 years.

The rise in educational attainment has been even more pronounced among nonwhite women and men 25 to 29 years of age. In March 1967 the median years of school completed by nonwhite women in this age group was 12.1 years; by nonwhite men, 12.2 years. In contrast, the median years of school completed by nonwhite women and men 25 to 29 years of age in April 1940 were 7.5 years and 6.5 years, respectively.

Another measure of the continuing increase in the level of education achieved by the nonwhite population is the rising proportion of the population 5 to 19 years of age enrolled in school. In 1966, 87 out of 100 nonwhite girls in this age group were enrolled in school. The comparable ratio for nonwhite boys was 90 out of 100. These ratios have increased significantly since the turn of the century.

A further illustration of the rise in educational attainment of the nonwhite population is a comparison of the proportions who had completed the various levels of schooling in March 1967 with those in October 1952. About 56 percent of nonwhite women 25 years of age and over had gone beyond elementary school in March 1967 compared with about 31 percent in October 1952. Among nonwhite men the percentages were 49 and 27.

At the upper end of the educational scale, 11 percent of nonwhite women and 10 percent of the men had had some college training in March 1967 compared with only 6 and 5 percent, respectively, in October 1952. Furthermore, a higher proportion of both nonwhite women and men were college graduates in March 1967 than in October 1952. Among women the proportion increased from less than 3 to almost 5 percent. Nonwhite men made even better progress-from 2 to 5 percent. There is a direct relationship between educational attainment and income. The median income in 1966 of nonwhite women and men 25 years of age and over was higher at each level of education attained.

The median income of nonwhite women was lower than that of nonwhite men at every level of educational attainment. The gap was narrower between those with some college, but even at this educational level the median income of the women was only 67 percent of that of the men.

Among year-round full-time workers, the 1966 median wage or salary income of nonwhite women was only 65 percent of that of nonwhite men.

NOTE. The figures in this fact sheet are from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.

[U.S. Dept. of Labor, Women's Bureau, May 1970]

WOMEN PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS FACT SHEET*

In 1969 about 1.6 million women were employed as private household workersincluding babysitters. Women constituted 98 percent of all workers in private household employment.

Annual wages in this occupation are very low:

In 1968 the median wage of even those women 14 years of age and over who were year-round full-time private household workers, including babysitters, was $1,523.1

The total cash income-which included wage and self-employment income as well as all forms of social insurance and public assistance paymentsof almost all women in this field of employment in 1968 was still very low: 82 percent had total cash incomes under $2,000, and 57 percent, under $1,000.

Median total cash income of the women who were year-round full-time workers-about one-fifth the total-was $1,701.

Almost three-fifths of the women heads of families who reported private household work as the job held longest during 1968 had incomes below the poverty level."

The data in this fact sheet refer to women 16 years of age and over unless otherwise indicated. 1 Median means half above, half below; year round, 50 to 52 weeks; and full time, 35 hours or more a week.

The poverty level is based on the Social Security Administration's poverty thresholds, adjusted annually in accordance with changes in the Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index. Currently classified as poor are those nonfarm households where total money income is less than $1,748 for an unrelated individual, $2,262 for a couple, and $3,553 for a family of four.

The low annual wages of almost all women private household workers reflect the intermittent character of their employment as well as their low rates of pay when employed:

Part time/full time:

In 1969, 64 percent of the women private household workers worked part time (less than 35 hours a week).

Of the full-time workers, 64 percent worked between 35 and 40 hours a week. The remaining 36 percent worked longer hours.

Part year/full year:

Of women private household workers in 1968:

4 out of 10 worked 26 weeks or less;

2 out of 10 worked between 27 and 49 weeks; and
About 4 out of 10 worked 50 to 52 weeks.

Many women private household workers are heads of families:

Nearly 200,000 women in this occupation were heads of families in March 1969.

In 1960, two-thirds of the families headed by either men or women private household workers included children under 18 years of age. About onefourth of the families with children under 18 had at least four children in the family.

Of the 1.4 million women 14 years of age and over who reported their occupations as dayworkers, housekeepers, maids, and laundresses, but excluding babysitters, in 1960:

More lived in the South than elsewhere:

About 54 percent were in the South;

Over 19 percent were in the Northeastern States;

About 18 percent were in the North Central States; and

More than 9 percent were in the West.

Negroes predominated:

Some 64 percent were Negro;

About 35 percent were white; and

Almost 1 percent were other nonwhites.

Relatively few were 'live-in" workers:

About 11 percent "lived in."

This was an urban occupation:

About 74 percent were in urban areas;

Some 21 percent were in rural nonfarm areas; and

About 5 percent were in rural farm areas.

The average private household worker was about 6 years older than the typical woman in the labor force:

The median age of all employed private household workers was 46 years. 53 percent were 45 years and over; 29 percent were over 55; and 10 percent were 65 and over.

The median age for white employed private household workers was 53 years, compared with 43 years for nonwhites.

In March 1949 less than 3 out of 10 private household workers were single: 27 percent were single;

37 percent were married and living with their husbands; and

36 percent were either widowed, divorced, or separated. Educationally, the private household worker is disadvantaged:

Legislatively, the private household worker is disadvantaged:

Workers in this occupation receive credits toward an old-age, survivors, or disability pension only if they earn a maximum of $50 from any one em

ployer in a calendar quarter. While private household workers are eligible for coverage under the Social Security Act, they are not covered by the Federal minimum wage and hour law.

By and large, they are not afforded the protection of the major forms of labor legislation and social insurance from which most other workers benefit:

Wages. Wisconsin is the only State with a minimum wage order which, effective July 1, 1970, covers domestic service workers (women and minors) without numerical or hourly exclusions. Private household workers are covered by the statutory rate in four States: Arkansas, where the law applies only to those private household employees who work for an employer of five or more persons in a regular employment relationship; Michigan, where the minimum wage law applies only to those private household workers who work for an employer of four or more persons at any one time in a calendar year; Nebraska, where the law covers private household workers but not babysitters and applies only to employers of four or more workers (except seasonal workers); and West Virginia, where the law applies only to those who work for an employer of at least six persons during a calendar week. Hours.-Washington's maximum hours law establishes a 60-hour week for household workers; Montana's constitution establishes an 8-hour day for all employees, except those in agriculture.

Unemployment Compensation.-New York and Hawaii have limited coverage of domestic workers under their State unemployment compensation laws. In New York, coverage has been extended to all persons in personal domestic service in a private household where the householder pays $500 or more in a calendar quarter to all such employees. And in Hawaii, private household workers are covered only if they earn at least $225 from an employer in a calendar quarter.

Workmen's Compensation.-Coverage is compulsory for all regularly employed private household workers in Puerto Rico and for all but part-time workers in Alaska. Connecticut has compulsory coverage for all private household workers employed more than 26 hours a week by one employer; California, for those working more than 52 hours a week for one employer; Ohio, for those in households where the employer has three or more such employees; and New York, for those employed a minimum of 48 hours a week by one employer in cities of 40,000 or more. Massachusetts has compulsory coverage for private household workers other than those who are seasonal or casual, or who work less than 16 hours a week. For the latter group, coverage is elective. In Michigan, while coverage is compulsory in households employing three or more workers, the employer is not liable for any such employee unless the person worked 35 hours or more a week for at least 13 weeks during the preceding 52 weeks. Coverage is elective in New Jersey, but the employer is not required to insure. In jurisdictions that do not specifically cover private household workers under workmen's compensation laws, such workers may be brought under voluntary coverage, except in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Iowa, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

NOTE. The statistical data in this report are from U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, and U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Legislative data are as of January 1970, except as otherwise noted.

[U.S. Dept. of Labor, Women's Bureau, June 1970]

LABOR LAWS AFFECTING PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

Private household work is one of the major fields of employment for women, who accounted for nearly all of the approximately 1.6 million household workers 16 years of age and older employed in March 1970. However, private household work is also one of the least attractive fields of employment, since the wages and working conditions often are substandard.

The 1968 median (half above, half below) wage of even those women private household workers 14 years of age and over who worked full time for 50 to 52 weeks a year was only $1,523. Since many workers in the occupation are employed only part time or part year, their earnings are clearly marginal. Moreover, surveys show that in this field of employment the fringe benefits and working conditions, including hours of work, have not kept pace with those in other fields.