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DOCUMENT COLLECTION

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Bulletin 1760 

Revised 1972

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

James D. Hodgson, Secretary

Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Geoffrey H. Moore, Commissioner

Bulletin 1760

Revised 1972

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 40 cents

Stock Number 2901—00967

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PREFACE

This chartbook was prepared by Sylvia Small in the Office of 

Economic and Social Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, under 

the general direction of Robert L. Stein. It grew out of an occupational analysis presented in a paper by Paul Ryscavage.

Maxine Stewart, Program Planning Officer of the Bureau, provided 

expert guidance.

Marian Hester was responsible for the statistical compilations 

underlying the charts and Susie Scandrett also contributed.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Introduction_______________________________________ 1

Opportunities for occupational advancement of

black workers have been improving__________________ 2

The higher paid occupations tend to be

more secure_____________________________________ 4

Occupational change has led to higher earnings

and lower unemployment for black workers____________ 6

Occupational advancement is related to a better

prepared black population__________________________ 8

Black youths are staying in school longer, and

more are going to college__________________________ 10

The effect of educational and occupational advance

is most apparent among young black workers___________ 12

Educational and occupational achievements, of 

both young and old, have been higher in the 

West and North than in the South ____________________ 14

As a result of wider job choices and increased job 

security, incomes of black workers have 

increased_______________________________________ 16

The improvement in black workers’ jobs and security 

has reduced, but not eliminated, low earners in 

the labor force___________________________________ 18

The future holds great promise________________________ 20

Appendix tables ___________________________________ 22

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INTRODUCTION

Black workers have been moving up the occupational scale in 

recent years, away from the labor and service occupations and 

toward white-collar, craftsmen, and operative jobs. In 1960, 2 in 

every 5 black workers were in white-collar, craftsmen, or operative 

occupations. By 1970, more than half were in such jobs. These 

occupations are less subject to unemployment and they are better 

paid. The change in the occupational distribution of black workers 

has had the effect of reducing their unemployment rate by threetenths of a percentage point and increasing earnings more than 

$10 a week.

The charts that follow separate the black labor force* into three 

occupational groups for analysis: The highest paid occupations, 

which include professional, technical, and managerial workers, 

whose usual earnings (median) for black men working full time were 

over $150 a week in 1970; the middle pay levels, including clerical 

and sales workers, craftsmen and foremen whose usual earnings 

(median of black men working full time) were $100-$150 a week; 

and the lower paid occupations whose usual earnings (median of 

black men working full time) were $100 a week or less. The charts 

show that black workers in the lowest occupational pay groupings 

tend to have the lowest educational attainment, and that as one 

proceeds up the occupational hierarchy education also increases. 

Lack of education has often been a barrier to employment in the 

higher paid occupations, whether required for performance of a 

job or not. Since educational attainment is much greater for young 

black workers than for older age groups, and since the trend toward increasing education continues, prospects are encouraging 

for continued occupational advancement.

*D a ta fo r black w orkers shown in th is report refer to th e N egro pop ulation exclusively in

c h a rt 5a, 5b, 7a, and 8b. All o th er ch arts are based on data fo r N egro and o th er nonw hite races, 90 percent of w hom are Negroes, according to th e 1970 Census of Population.

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O P P O R T U N IT IE S FO R

O C C U P A T I O N A L A D V A N C E M E N T O F B L A C K W O R K E R S

H A V E B E E N IM P R O V IN G . . .

BETWEEN 1960 AND 1970, THE NUMBER OF BLACK WORKERS IN HIGHERPAID AND MIDDLE LEVEL OCCUPATIONS* INCREASED SHARPLY . . .

Chart la .

BLACK WORKERS

Millions of employed 

---------------------------------------- 9

Higher paid*

Professional

T ec h n ic al &

M a n a g e ria l

Middle pay level*

C lerical

Sales

Craftsmen &

O p eratives

Lower paid*

N o n fa rm laborers

S ervice w orkers

P rivate household

w orkers

Farm w orkers

1 9 60 1970

. . . while the number of black workers in lower-paid occupations decreased.

*S e e In tro d u ctio n , page 1, fo r o ccupation al pay level d efinitions.

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GAINS OF WHITE WORKERS WERE SMALLER, PROPORTIONATELY . . .

Chart lb .

WHITE WORKERS

Millions of employed 

----------------------------------------9 0

Higher paid* <

Professional

T ec h n ic al &

M an ag e rial

Middle pay level* <

C lerical

Sales

C raftsm en &

O peratives

Lower paid* <

N o n fa rm laborers

S ervice w orkers

P rivate household

w orkers

Farm w orkers

. .. but the share and number of white workers employed in the higher- paid 

occupations continued to be much larger than for black workers.

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TH E HIG HER-PAID

O C C U P A T IO N S T E N D TO B E

M O R E S E C U R E . . .

BLACK MEN IN THE PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL, AND MANAGERIAL 

OCCUPATIONS EARNED ABOUT $75 A WEEK MORE THAN LABORERS AND 

SERVICE WORKERS . . .

Chart 2a.

USUAL W EEKLY EARNINGS, MAY 1970 

(MEDIAN FOR FULL TIME WORKERS)

Higher

paid

Middle

pay

level

Lower

paid

$ 0 50 100 150 2 0 0

The usual earnings of black women in each occupation were generally lower than 

those of men.

-N u m b e r of w om en em ployed in th is occupation is too sm all to be shown sep arate ly.

''N u m b e r of m en em ployed in th is occupation is too sm all to be shown sep arate ly.

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THE HIGHER-PAID OCCUPATIONS HAVE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT 

R A TES. . .

Chart 2b.

1970 UNEMPLOYMENT RATE 

OF BLACK WORKERS

Higher paid

Middle pay level

Lower paid

0 2 4 6 8 10

And black workers in the higher-paid occupations are rarely unemployed more than 

once in a single year.

Chart 2c.

PERCENT UNEMPLOYED MORE THAN ONCE IN 1970 OF 

ALL BLACK WORKERS

Higher paid

Middle pay level

Lower paid

0 2 4 6 8 10

J MEN 

_J WOMEN

White men’s unemployment rates are lower, but follow the same pattern. 

Women as well as men have the lowest unemployment rates in the 

higher-paid occupations.

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O C C U P A T IO N A L C H A N G E H A S LED

TO H IG H E R E A R N IN G S W ITH L O W E R U N E M P L O Y M E N T

F O R B L A C K W O R K E R S . . .

IN 1970, AVERAGE EARNINGS OF BLACK MEN WERE 11% HIGHER, AND OF 

BLACK WOMEN ABOUT 30% HIGHER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THE 

BLACK LABOR FORCE HAD NOT BEEN MOVING INTO THE BETTER PAYING 

OCCUPATIONS . . .

Chart 3a.

USUAL WEEKLY EARNINGS OF BLACK W ORKERS (MEDIAN)

Dollars

125

MEN

Earnings 

attributable to 

occupational 

advances 1960-70

Sim ilar occupational movement of white men contributed less than 3% , and of 

white women about 4% to 1970 earnings.

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IN 1970, THE BLACK UNEMPLOYM ENT RATE WAS 8.2% . . . COMPARED 

WITH OVER 10% IN 1960. PART OF THIS REDUCTION RESULTED FROM 

OCCUPATIONAL ADVANCEMENT - ESPECIALLY OF BLACK MEN.

Chart 3b.

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF BLACK WORKERS

10

8

6

4

2

0

Reduction due to 

occupational advance

Reduction due to improved 

employment opportunities

1960 1970

Occupational change had little or no effect on white unemployment rates.

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O C C U P A T IO N A L A D V A N C E M E N T

IS R E L A T E D TO A B E T T E R P R E P A R E D

B L A C K P O P U L A T IO N . . .

BETTER EDUCATED BLACK W ORKERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILL 

HIGHER-PAID JOBS.

Chart 4a.

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF BLACK MEN 

BY EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

With 4 years 

of high school 

or more

Without 

a high school 

diploma

Higher educational attainment leads to higher occupational attainment for both 

men and women.

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YOUNG BLACK ADULTS HAVE BEEN CLOSING THE EDUCATION GAP.

Chart 4b.

MEDIAN YEARS OF SCHOOL COMPLETED BY YOUNG ADULTS 

(25-29 YEARS OLD)

By 1970, educational attainment of young black adults was within one-half year of 

young white people this age. Lack of education is often a barrier to employment 

in better paid jobs for both black and white workers, whether education is 

required for performance of the job or not.

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B L A C K Y O U T H S A R E

S T A Y IN G IN S C H O O L L O N G E R A N D M O R E

A R E G O IN G TO CO LLE G E . . .

BY 1970, MORE THAN HALF OF THE YOUNG BLACK ADULTS HAD FOUR YEARS 

OF HIGH SCHOOL OR MORE . . .

Chart 5a.

PERCENT OF BLACK POPULATION AGES 25-29 WHO HAD COMPLETED 

4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL OR MORE, AND 4 YEARS OF COLLEGE

Percent

60 *

*D a ta refer to N egro and o th e r races.

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. . AND COLLEGE ENROLLMENTS INCREASED SHARPLY.

Chart 5b.

NUM BER OF BLACK YOUTH ENROLLED IN COLLEGE

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000

Percent of 

total

enrollment

0 - J

1964 1968 1970

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T H E E F F E C T O F E D U C A T I O N A L

A N D O C C U P A T IO N A L A D V A N C E IS M O S T A P P A R E N T

A M O N G Y O U N G B L A C K W O R K E R S .. .

YOUNGER BLACK WORKERS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE IN HIGHER PAID 

OCCUPATIONS THAN ARE OLDER AGE GROUPS . . .

Chart 6a.

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF BLACK W ORKERS 

BY AGE

Percent

Higher paid

> Middle pay level

> Lower paid

0

Ages

25-34

Ages

35-54

Ages

55-64

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HOWEVER, DESPITE GAINS MADE BY THE YOUNG, MANY ARE STILL IN THE 

LOWEST PAID OCCUPATIONS.

Chart 6b.

BLACK WORKERS AS A PERCENT OF YOUNG WORKERS AGES 25-34, 

BY OCCUPATIONAL PAY LEVEL

Percent

100 H

80 —\

60 —\

40 —\

> White workers

> Black workers

0 — I

Higher

paid

Middle pay 

level

Lower

paid

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E D U C A T IO N A L A N D O C C U P A T IO N A L A C H IE V E M E N T S

OF B L A C K W O R K E R S , B O T H Y O U N G A N D OLD, H A V E B E E N H IG H E R

IN T H E W E S T A N D N O R T H * T H A N IN T H E S O U T H

NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF THE YOUNG BLACK MEN IN THE WEST, AND 

ONE-HALF OF THOSE IN THE NORTH HAD FINISHED FOUR YEARS OF HIGH 

SCHOOL OR MORE BY 1970, COMPARED WITH JUST OVER ONE-THIRD IN 

THE SOUTH . . .

Chart 7a.

PERCENT OF BLACK WORKERS WITH 4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL OR MORE

Percent

100

Young men 

ages 25-44

Older men 

ages 45-64

*N o rth is com posed of N o rth ea st and N o rth C e n tral regions.

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TWO-THIRDS OF THE BLACK WORKERS IN THE WEST AND NORTH ARE IN 

THE HIGHER OR MIDDLE PAY LEVEL OCCUPATIONS, COMPARED WITH 

ONE-HALF OF THE BLACK WORKERS IN THE SOUTH.

Chart 7b.

OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF BLACK MEN BY REGION

Percent

25 —

Higher paid

> Middle pay level

> Lower paid

West North South

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A S A R E S U L T OF W ID E R JO B CH OICES,

A N D IN C R E A S E D J O B S E C U R IT Y , IN C O M E S OF

B L A C K W O R K E R S H A V E I N C R E A S E D . . .

THE PROPORTION OF BLACK MEN WITH OVER $10,000 EARNINGS* 

QUADRUPLED BETWEEN 1959 AND 1969 . . . BUT WAS STILL FAR BELOW 

THAT OF WHITE MEN.

Chart 8a.

PERCENT WITH EARNINGS OF $10,000 OR MORE IN CONSTANT DOLLARS*

Percent

MEN WOMEN

30

20 

White

I I

Black 

0 —

1959 1969 1959 1969

Black and white women lagged behind both black and white men in achieving 

such earnings, despite gains during the decade.

* In C o nstant 1969 dollars. D ata fo r black m en and w om en refer to N egro and o th e r races.

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THE PERCENT WITH INCOME OF $10,000 OR MORE WAS MUCH LARGER IN 

THE WEST AND THE NORTH THAN IN THE SOUTH FOR BOTH BLACK AND 

WHITE MEN.

Chart 8b.

PERCENT OF PERSONS WITH INCOMES OF $10,000 OR MORE IN 1969*

Percent

MEN WOMEN

White

However, few women earn such incomes in any region.

*D a ta fo r black m en and w om en refer to N egroes, only.

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T H E I M P R O V E M E N T I N B L A C K W O R K E R S ’ J O B S A N D S E C U R I T Y

H A S R E D U C E D . B U T N O T E L IM IN A TE D , L O W E A R N E R S IN THE

N O N F A R M L A B O R F O R C E . ..

THERE WAS A SHARP REDUCTION BETWEEN 1959 AND 1969 IN THE PERCENT 

OF BLACK MEN AND BLACK WOMEN WITH EARNINGS UNDER $3,000*.

Chart 9a

BLACK MEN

Less than 15% of white men were earning at this level compared with over 

20% of black men, in 1969.

‘ A n nual earn in g s in con stant 1969 dollars.

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BUT MORE THAN HALF OF ALL BLACK WOMEN 

STILL HAD SUCH EARNINGS IN 1969 . . .

Chart 9b

BLACK WOMEN

1959

Two-fifths of white women were earning at this level in 1969.

•A n n u a l earnings in con stant 1969 dollars.

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TH E F U T U R E

H O L D S

G R E A T P R O M I S E . . .

BY 1980, A MUCH LARGER SHARE OF THE BLACK LABOR FORCE 

WILL BE YOUNG . . .

Chart 10a.

PERCENT OF BLACK LABOR FORCE UNDER 35 YEARS OF AGE

Percent

100 -----------------------------------------------------------------

75

^P rojection — Total lab o r force.

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. . . AND BETTER EDUCATED.

Chart 10b.

PERCENT HAVING 4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL OR MORE, AGES 25-34

Percent

100 -----------------------------------------------------------------

1970 1980*

As a result, a larger proportion of black workers is expected to be in the better 

paid occupations.

Projection — C ivilian labor force.

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APPENDIX TABLES

Charts l-a&b. Change in employment by occupation and race 1960-70 

(numbers in millions)

Race and occupation 

level 1960 1970

Percent change Percent of total 

1960-70 1970 employment

Negro and other races

All occupations 6.9 8.4 22 100

Higher paid .5 1.1 109 13

Middle pay level 2.4 4.0 64 47

Lower paid 4.0 3.4 - 1 5 40

White

All occupations 58.9 70.2 19 100

Higher paid 14.0 18.4 31 26

Middle pay level 32.1 38.6 21 55

Lower paid 12.8 13.2 3 19

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, E m p lo ym e n t an d E arn in g s,

December 1369 and January 1971.

Chart 2-a. Usual weekly earnings by occupation, median for full-time 

workers, Negro and other races, May 1970

Occupation Male Female

Total $114 $ 82

Higher paid — Professional and technical 174 146

Managers, officials, and proprietors 169 1

Middle pay

level — Clerical 123 98

Sales workers 125 71

Craftsmen and foremen 129 1

Operatives 112 75

Lower pay

scale — Nonfarm laborers 98 1

Private household 1 42

Service workers 95 72

Farmers and farm laborers 55 1

1 Data base below 40,000 — too small to show separately.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of The Census, C u rren t P o p u latio n Survey,

May 1970.

Chart 2-b. Unemployment rates of Negro and other races, males and 

females — 1970

Occupation level Males Females

Higher paid 2.1 2.1

Middle pay level 6.5 9.8

Lower paid 8.3 7.3

Source: C u rren t P o p u latio n Survey, annual averages, 1970.

Chart 2-c. Percent of workers with two or more spells of unemployment, 

Negro and other races, by occupation of longest job, 1970

Occupation level Total Male Female

Higher paid 2.1 2.6 1.5

Middle pay level 7.7 7.9 7.4

Lower paid 8.1 11.0 5.3

Source: C u rren t P o p u latio n Survey, work experience tabulations, March 1971

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Chart 3-a. 1970 weekly earnings weighted by 1960 employment 

distribution compared with 1970 earnings weighted by 1970 

employment distribution

Using 1970 Using 1960 Difference

Race weights weights Amount Percent

Negro and other

Men $110.34 $ 99.57 $10.77 10.8

Women 75.13 57.56 17.57 30.5

White

Men 155.77 152.44 3.33 2.2

Women 85.72 82.12 3.60 4.4

Source: C u rre n t P o p u latio n Survey, annual averages 1970, and May 1970.

Chart 3-b. 1960 and 1970 unemployment rate Negro and other races, both 

sexes

Actual Computed

unemployment rate of: unemployment

Total Experienced rate of

labor labor experienced

force force labor force

Actual 1960 Rate 10.2 9.3

Actual 1970 Rate 8.2 7.1

Change: 1960-70 - 2 .2

Computed Unemployment Rate 

1960 Labor Force Distribution 

x 1960 Unemployment Rates 

1970 Labor Force Distribution

9.3

x 1960 Unemployment Rates 9.0

Change because of occupational advance, 1960-70 -0 .3

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, E m p lo ym e n t a n d E arn in g s,

December 1969 and January 1971 and C u rre n t P o p u latio n Survey, annual averages,

1970.

Chart 4-a. Distribution of employed men by occupation and educational 

attainment (18 years of age and over)

Race and 

occupation level

Less than 

4 years of 

high school 

(percent)

4 years 

high school 

or more 

(percent)

4 years 

college 

or more 

(percent)

Negro and other 100 100 100

Higher paid 4 24 78

Middle level 53 55 15

Lower paid 42 21 6

White 100 100 100

Higher paid 11 42 83

Middle level 64 48 15

Lower paid 25 11 2

Source: C u rre n t P o p u latio n Survey, March 1970, educational attainment tabulations.

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Chart 4-b. Median years of school completed by persons 25-29 years old

Negro and

other races White

1940 7.1 10.9

1950 8.7 12.2

1960 10.8' 12.3

1970 12.2 12.6

' Total population, not total civilian population as in other years.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports,

Series P-20, No. 77, 99, 194, and 207, and Census ol Population 1960, PC(2)-5B,

table 2.

Chart 5-a. Percent of population ages 25-29 with 4 years of high school or 

more, and 4 years of college or more

4 years high school 4 years college

or more or more

Year Negro White Negro White

1960 38.6’ 63.7 5.4’ 11.8

1964 45.1 72.1 5.6 13.6

1968 55.9 75.2 5.4 15.6

1970 56.1 77.8 7.3 17.2

1 Negro and other races

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Census, Current Population Reports, Series

P-20, Numbers 138, 182, 194, and 207.

Chart 5-b. Negroes enrolled in college

Percent of total

Year Number enrollments

1964 234,000 5

1968 434,000 6

1970 522,000 7

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports,

Series P-20, No. 190, and P-20, No. 148.

Chart 6-a. Distribution of occupations by age and race, 1970

Negro and other races

25-34 yrs. 35-54 yrs. 55-64 yrs.

Higher paid 16 15 10

Middle level 55 44 35

Lower paid 29 42

White

55

Higher paid 31 29 27

Middle level 55 56 52

Lower paid 13 15 21

Source: Current Population Survey, annual averages, 1970.

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Chart 6-b. Percent Negro and other races of total employment by age and 

occupation, 1970

Occupation level

25-34 years 

of age

35-54 years 

of age

55-64 

of age

Total 12 11 9

Higher paid 6 6 4

Middle level 12 9 6

Lower paid 23 25 21

Source: Current Population Survey, annual averages, 1970.

Chart 7-a. Percent of Negro men with 4 years of high school or more, 1970, 

by region

Region

Younger men 

Ages 25-44

Older men 

Ages 45-64

West 72.4 45.6

North 50.0 29.5

South 36.0 17.3

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports,

Series P-20, No. 207.

Chart 7-b. Occupational distribution of employed persons by region, 1970

Occupation level North West South

Negro and other

Higher paid 14 21 9

Middle level 55 49 41

Lower paid 31 30 50

White

Higher paid 25 29 27

Middle level 56 51 56

Lower paid 19 20 18

Source: Current Population Survey, 1970 special area annual averages.

Chart 8-a. Percent of persons employed in nonfarm occupations, with 

earnings of $10,000 or more; 1959 and 19691

Sex and race 1959 1969

Males

Negro and other races 2.3 8.9

White 15.5 31.7

Females

Negro and other races 0.2 2.1

White 1.3 3.1

' In constant 1969 dollars.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey.

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Chart 8-b. Percent of workers with incomes of $10,000 or more in 1969, by 

sex and race

Negro and other races White

Men Women

Region Total Negro Total Negro Men Women

Total 6.8 5.5 1.3 1.2 26.1 2.6

North 9.4 8.7 1.7 1.7 27.5 2.6

South 2.6 2.3 0.9 0.9 20.9 2.1

West 15.4 12.2 2.1 1.1 30.2 3.4

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey.

Chart 9-a&b. Percent of persons employed in nonfarm occupations with 

earnings under $3,000' in 1959 and 1969

Sex and race 1959 1969

Men 18.0 14.6

White 15.9 14.0

Negro and other races 39.5 22.1

Women 51.9 43.3

White 48.6 42.0

Negro and other races 75.3 52.0

' In constant 1969 dollars.

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey.

Chart 10-a. Distribution of the total labor force by age, 1960, 1970, and 

1980'

Race and age 1960 1970 1980'

Negro and other 100 100 100

Under 35 years of age 42 48 55

35 years and over 58 52 45

White 100 100 100

Under 35 years of age 38 43 48

35 years and over 62 57 52

' Projection

Source: Travis, Sophia C. The U.S. Labor Force Projections to 1985, Special Labor Force

Report No. 119, and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,

Employment and Earnings, January 1972.

Chart 10-b. Percent with 4 years of high school or more in the civilian labor 

force, ages 25-34, 1970 and 1980

Negro and other_______White

1970 59 78

1980' 74 84

' Projection

Sourcp: Johnston, Dennis, Education of Adult Workers, Special Labor Force Report No. 122,

and William Deutermann, Educational Attainment of Workers, March 1969 and 1970,

Special Labor Force Report No. 125.

26 <r GPO : 1972 O - 474-354

Digitized for FRASER 

http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ 

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Digitized for FRASER 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

B U R E A U O F L A B O R S T A TIS TIC S

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20212

THIRD CLASS MAIL

O FFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

U.S. D E P A R T M E N T O F L A B O R

LAB - 446

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis