NEGRO WOMEN 

IN THE POPULATION AND 

IN THE LABOR FORCE 

U.Sx DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 

W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary 

WOMEN'S BUREAU 

Mar y Dublin Keyserling/Director 

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COMTENTS 

Page 

Negro Wcmen In the Population 1 

Negro Women Workers 3 

Child Care Arrangements 5 

Occupations ^ 

Uneii5>lQyment . 5 

Bducational Attainment . - . 7 

Wage or Salaiy Income 7 

Coverage by Minimum Wiage 10 

CHARTS 

A. Percent of Families Living i n Poverty in 19^3j hy Type 

of Family and Color^ March 1964 ......... 

B. Percent of Nonfam Family Inccme i n 1963 Contributed 

by Wife, by Color, March 1964 k 

C. Unenqployment Rates, by Sex, Color, and Age, 195^-65 

and Apri l I966 .... . 6 

D. Educational Attainment of the Population, by Race and 

Sex, March 1964 8 

E. Median Wage or Salaiy Inccme of Yeai> Round Pull-Time 

Workers, by Sex and Color, 1939 and 1955-64 • . . . 9 

F. Percent Increase i n the Wage or Salary Income of 

Year-Round Full-Tlme Workers, by Sex and Color, for 

Selected Periods from 1939 to 1964 11 

TA'Hr.Tgfl 

1. Percent Distribution of the Hegro Population, by Age 

and Sex, I965, 1964, i960, and 1950 ....... . 12 

2. Percent Distribution of the Population, by Race, Faim 

or Nonfam Residence, and Region, 1964, 196O, 

and^ 1950 13 

Marital Status of Women i n the Population, by Race, 

March 1964 l 4 

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Page 

k. Faznllles, by Type of Family and Race^ March 19614- I5 

5. Families Living i n Poverty i n 19^3, by Type of Family and 

Color , March 1964 16 

6. Qnployment Status of the Popiilation, by Sex and Race, 

Itorch 196k 17 

7. Qnploynent Status of Population, by Sex and Color, i96 0 

end 1950 18 

8. Women i n the Civilia n Labor Force, by Age and Race, March 196k . 19 

9. Marita l Status of Negro Women i n the Civilia n Labor Force, March 196^ 20 

10. Percent of Nonfarra Family Inccme i n I963 Contributed by Wife, 

by Color , March 196k 21 

12. Mothers i n the Population and Labor Force, by Marital Status, 

Ages of Children, and Color, March 1965 22 

12. Child Care Arrangements of Working Mothers With Children Under 

Ih Years of Age, by Ages of Children and Color, February 

1965 i Zh 

13. Major Occupational Groups of Hnployed Negro Women and Men, 

March 19 ^ 26 

14. Major Occupational Groups of Snployed Nonvhite Women and Men, 

i96 0 and 1950 ' 27 

15. Unemployment Rates by Sex, Color , and Age, Selected" Years 

195V. 65 and Apri l I96 6 28 

1 6 . Unemployment Rates, by Sex, Years of School Completed, and 

Race, March 1964 29 

1 7 . School Enrollment of the Population 5 to 3^ Years of Age, by 

Race and Sex, October 196^^ 30 

1 8 . Level of School Attended by Students 5 t o 3^ Years of Age, by 

Race and Sex, October 19 ^ 31 

19. Educational Attainment of the Population, by Race and Sex, 

March 1964 ' 32 

20. Median Years of School Conpleted, by Employment Status, Sex, 

and Color , October 1952 and March 1957, 1939, 1962, 1964, 

and 1965 33 

21. Median Wage or Salary Income of Year-Round FiLLl-Time Workers, 

by Sex and Color , 1939 a M 1955-64 3^ 

i i 

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NEGRO WMEl^ IN THE POPULATION 

AMD THE LABOR FORCE 

Negro Women in the Population 

The Negro popvilation totaled in 1965* (Table 1) Slightly 

more than half (52 percent) vere females. About two-thirds of both the 

females and males vere under 35 years of age. 

Most of the Negro population (93 percent) were nonfarm residents i n 

1964. (Table 2) This conpares with about four-fifths (79 percent) in 1950-

The movement of the Negro population avay from the South as vei l as avay 

fron the farm over the same period i s clearly indicated—only percent live d 

there i n l^Sh compared vit h 68 percent i n 1950-

More than 1 out of 3 Negro women I 8 years of age and over was widowed^ 

divorced^ or separated from her husband in March 196^^ (Table 3) This was 

true of only about 1 out of 5 'vriiite women* 

There were 440,000 Negro families in Kiarch 196U. (Table k) The 

average Negro family had k.3 members. Nearly one-fourth of the Negro families 

were headed by a woman. 

Information on the number of Negro families livin g i n poverty l / i s not 

available. In 19^3^ 2,027,000^or more than 2 out of 5, nonwhite families vere 

livin g i n poverty as compared with less than 1 out of 8 white families . 

(Table 5) 

Families most apt to be livin g i n poverty are those headed by a woman 

or those with a large number of children. In 19^3, 71 percent of the 1.1 

millio n nonwhite families headed by a woman were poor. (Chart A) Of the 3*8 

m m ion "riiite families headed by a woman, 31 percent were poor. Of al l 

families with 5 or more own children, 76 percent of the nonwhite and 31 percent 

of the white vere livin g i n poverty in 1963- 2/ 

There were I5 . I millio n children under I8 years of age livin g i n poverty 

i n 1963—9*3 millio n white and 5.8 millio n nonwhite. 3 / About 60 percent of 

a H nonwhite children were members of poor families compared with I6 percent 

of al l white children. About 86 percent of the children in nonwhite families 

headed by a woman were livin g i n poverty. 

1 / The Social Security Administration index of poverty assumes that a 

person farm family with annual cash income of less than $1,860 and other 

person familieB with less than $3^100 liv e in poverty. This index i s adjusted 

to take family size into account. 

2 / U.S. Departaaent of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Security 

Administration: Social Security Bulletin, January I965 . 

j / U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social Security 

Administration: Social Security Bulletin, July 19^5* 

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Chart A. - Percent of Families Living in Poverty in 1963, 

by Type of Family and Color, March 1964 

Poor Nonpoor 

Husband-Wife Families 

White families 

(37,799,000) 

Nonwhite families 

(3,511,000) 

Families with Female Head 

Whit* famOiM 

(3.797,000) 

NonwhHe famili«s 

(1,0^,000) 

Sotirc«:U.S. DaportimntHadHti,EducatioiMmd WMfBra,8oeiat S«eurityAdinjni«trotion. 

2 

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Negro Wcmen Workers 

The percent of the Negro woman population at work or seeking work 

i s increasing. Nearly half (^9 percent) of the Negro wcmen l 8 years of 

age and over were i n the labor force in March (Table 6) Figures 

f or 1950 and i960, while not strictl y comparable since they refer to nonwhite women I 8 years of age and over, show that the proportion of non%rtiite 

women in the labor force was kO percent and h^ percent, respectively. 

(Table T) 

White wcmen I 8 years of age and over are less likel y to be i n the 

labor force than are Negro or nonwhite women. The labor force participation 

of white women rose from 29 percent i n I95O to 35 percent in i960 and 38 

percent i n 196k. (Tables 6 and 7) 

More than half of al l Negro women 25 to years of age were working 

or seeking work in March 1964. (Table 8) In contrast, among al l women, 

only i n the age group 45 to 5^ years were as many as half i n the labor force. 

About half (5I percent) of the Negro wcmen i n the civilia n labor 

force i n March 1964 were married and livin g with thei r husbands. (Table 9) 

About a thir d (34 percent) were widowed, divorced, or separated from thei r 

husbands. Only I5 percent were single. 

Many of these married wcmen workers livin g with thei r husbands made 

a substantial contribution to the family income. Among nonfam nonwhite 

wives, 58 percent contributed 20 percent or more of the family income, 39 

percent contributed 30 percent or more, and 25 percent contributed 40 percent 

or more. (Chart B, Table 10) The compai^ble percentages for nonfam white 

wives were 55 percent, 39 percent, and 22 percent, respectively. 

Information i s not available on the nmber of Negro mothers who are 

i n the labor force. However, the tendency of Negro mothers to seek paid 

employment i s ill\istrated by recent figures on nonwhite mothers. In March 

1965, 1,399^000 nonwhite mothers with children under 18 years of age were i n 

the labor force. (Table 11) They represented 46 percent of al l nonwhite 

mothers with children of thi s age. Nonwhite mothers who are widowed, divorced, 

or separated are more likel y to work than are those livin g with thei r husbands. 

Thei r labor-force participation rates were 55 percent and 43 percent, respectively^ 

i n March 1965* Many nonwhite mothers with young children (under 6 years of age) 

also work or seek paid employment. They numbered 683,000 In March 1965 and 

constituted 38 percent of a H nomrtilte mothers with young children. 

White mothers are les s likel y to work than are nonwhite mothers. Among 

white wcmen with children under I 8 years of age, 34 percent were In the labor 

force; among those with children under 6, only 24 percent were working or 

seeklJ^ work. 

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Chart B. -- Percent of Nonfarm Family Income in 1963 Contributed by Wife, 

by Color, March 1964 

Less than 

ZO percent 

20 to 29.9 

percent 

30 to 39.9 

percent 

40 percent 

or more 

Source: US, Deportment of Labor, Bureau of Lobor Statistics. 

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Child Care Arrangements 

Working mothers (both vhlte and nonvhlte), many of vhcm vork out 

of econctnic need, often fin d i t difficul t to secure adequate day care 

f or thei r children. Of the 12.3 millio n children under i k years of age 

i n February 19^5 vhose mothers vorked for 27 weeks or more i n the 

largest proportion vere cared for in thei r own heme, usually by thei r 

father or another relative. (Table 12) This was true for both the 10.1 

millio n white children percent) and the 2.2 millio n nonwhite children 

(kh percent). Nonwhite children were cared for more frequently in someone 

else' s home (22 percent) than were white (15 percent). About 10 percent 

of al l nonwhite children and 8 percent of al l white looked after themselves; 

among those 12 or 13 years of age, 26 percent of the nonwhite and 20 percent of the white children did so. Only 2 percent of both white and nonwhite 

children were provided group care such as furnished by day care centers. 

Occupations 

Most Negro wcmen are employed as service workers. In March 

37 percent were private-household workers and 26 percent were service 

workers outside the heme. (Table 13) In contrast the majority of Negro 

men are craftsmen and foremen, operatives, and nonfarm laborers. About 60 

percent of them were employed in these occupations i n March 190^* 

Figures on the employment of nonwhite women and men i n 1950 and i960, 

although not strictl y cemparable (about 93 percent were Negro), indicate 

the movement of Negro workers into white-collar occxQ>atlons. (Table li^-) 

The proportion of wonen i n thi s type of work rose frem 13 to 19 percent over 

the 10-year period. The ceoparable percentages for men were 9 and 13 percent. I t would appear that more nonwhite women than inen hold professional 

or technical Jobs. But most of these wonen are working as school teachers 

i n rura l areas i n the South. Over half of the nonwhite wonen, but only onefourth of the nonwhite men, i n professional fend technical occi^tlons i n 

1960 were employed as teachers (except college) . 

Itaemplcgnnent 

Unemployment Is more severe among Negro wcmen than among Negro men. 

In Apri l 1966 the unemployment rates (aeasonally adjusted) were 8.1 percent 

f or nonwhite wonen and 6.3 percent for nonwhite men. (Data for Negroes are 

not available. ) In contrast, unen^oyment rates for white wonen and men 

were h.k percent and 2.8 percent, respectively. 

Unemployment Is more widespread among teenagers than adulta, among 

nonwhite than white teenagers, and among girl s than beys. In Apri l I966 

nonwhite girl s i k to 19 years of age had the highest rate of unemployment 

(31 percent)/ (Chart C, Table 15) The rates for other teenagers were I9.5 

percent fo r nonwhite bo^ , 12.2 percent for white girls , ax^ 9.7 percent 

f o r white boys. 

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Chart C. - Unemployment Rates, by Sex, Color, and Age, 1954 - 65 and April 1966 

(Persons 14 years of age and over) 

Percent 

3.0 r 

25 -

5 -

14 to 19 years of age 

Percent 

-i30 

I I I I I J L 

25 

20 

15 

10 

- " 0 

20 years of age and over 

1954 1957 I960 '61 '62 '63 '64 

'''April 1966 (seasonally odjusted) 

Source: U.S. Department of Labor,Offlc6 of Manpower Policy, Evaluation and Research. 

6 

'65 

'i'April 1966 

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Unemployment among al l aduD.t workers has decline d steadil y since 

1961 but at a more rapi d rat e among men than araon^ v^onen. Unemployment 

among whit e teenagers , both boys and qItIs , and amon^; nonwhite boys has 

also decreased fairl y steadil y over the seme period . Cn the othe r hand, 

imemployment among nonwhite girl s t o 19 years of a,2;e i s higher today 

than i t was i n I961 or even i n 

Unemployment i s also higher among Negro women than among Negro men 

at each leve l of educational attainment. In March 19^^^ 8*2 percent of 

Negro women, but only 6.1 percent of Negro men, with some college training 

were \memployed. (Table I6) The unemployment rates for Negro women and 

men who had attended high school were 13.8 percent and 10.9 percent, 

respectively. 

Educational Attainment 

A larger proportion of Negro males than of Negro females 5 to 3h 

years of age were enrolled in school in October 19^^—62 percent compared 

with 57 percent. (Table 17) The distribution of these enrollees by 

leve l of school, however, was almost identical for males and females. 

(Table I8) On the other hand, about 6,000 more Negro males than females 

were enrolled in college. 

The median yeetrs of school completed by v^^iro wumcn 18 y^c^n oi" ar;e 

and over in March 196U was 9.9 years; by Negro men, 9.O years. (Table I9) 

Both white women and men had completed 12.1 years of schooling on the 

average. 

Although more Negro men than women had 8 years or less of schooling 

(U9.7 percent compared with U2.8 percent), a slightl y higher proportion of 

Negro men (9-5 percent) than of Negro women' (9.I percent) had completed 1 

year or more of college. (Chart D) 

Nonwhite men and women have made significant gains i n educational 

attainment since 1952. (Table 20) This is particularly true of nonwhite 

men and women in the labor force. (Comparable data for Negro men and women 

are not available for earlier years.) The median years of school ccanpleted 

by nonwhite wanen 18 years of age and over in the civilia n labor force rose 

from 8.1 years i n 1952 to 11.1 years i n I965. The comparable figures for 

nonwhite men workers were 7-2 years i n 1952 and 10.0 years in I965. The gap 

in the educational attainment of white and nonwhite workers has narrowed 

considerably over the 13-year period. 

Wage or Salary Income 

Among year-round full-time workers, the wage or salary income of 

nonwhite women has been consistently lower than that of al l other workers 

throughout the period from 1939 to 1961^-. (Chart E, Table 21) However, 

the gap has narrowed. Between 1939 and 196^, the earnings of nonwhite 

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Chart D. -- Educational Attainment of the Population,; by 

Race and Sex, March 1964 

(Persons 18 years of age and over) 

Percent 

100 r 

Women 

80 

60 

40 

20 

26.8 

42.8 

White 

8 years or less-^ 

Men 

Negro White 

^ ^ ^ Some high school 

Negro 

Some college 

Includes persons reporting no school years completed. 

Source: U.S. Deportment of Commerce, Bureau of ttie Census; U.S. Department of Labor, 

Burwu of Labor Statistics. 

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Chart E. - Median Wage or Salary Income of Year-Round Full-Tlme Workers, 

by Sex and Color, 1939 and 1955 - 64 

(Median wage or salary income in I960 constant dollars) 

Madion 

Wage 

or 

Salary Income 

$6,000 -

$5,00 0 -

$3,00 0 -

$1,000 -

1939 1955 '56 '5 7 '5 8 '59 '6 0 '61 '62 '6 3 '64 

Souret: US. Daportrnffit of Comnitre*,Buraou of tti* C«ntus. 

9 

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vcHnen vho vorked year round ful l time increased BY 266 percent. (Chart F) 

This compares vith an increase of 200 percent for nonvhite men, 105 percent for white men, and 100 percent for vhite wonen. However, nonwhite 

women's earnings i n 196^r were stil l only 62 percent of those of nonwhite 

men and 69 percent of those of white women. 

Coverage by Minimm Wa^e 

There were 5,611,000 Negroes employed in nonsupervisory Jobs i n 196^— 

3,lli;,000 men and 2,^1-97,000 women, h/ Of these, 57 percent of the men, but 

only 25 percent of the women, were "covered by the minimum wage provisions of 

the Federal Fai r Labor Standards Act. Some of the remaining 1,0^0,000 Negro 

men and 1,877,000 Negro women were covered by State protective labor legislation. However, many Negroes, and especially women, work i n low-paying service 

occupations such as hospital attendant, kitchen worker, cook, and waitress, 

which are rarely covered by State minimum wage laws or in private-household 

work where coverage is practically nonexistent. 

NOTE 

Because of rounding, numbers and percentages 

in statistica l tables do not necessarily add 

to totals . 

h/ U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hoxor and Public Contracts 

Divisions, Minimum Wage and Maximum Hours Standards Under the Fai r Labor 

Standards Act, January I966 . 

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Chart F. -- Percent Increase in the Wage or Salary Income of Year-Round 

Fuli-Time Workers, by Sex and Color, for Selected Periods from 1939 to 1964 

(Median wage or salary income in 1960 constant dollars) 

Percent 

Increase 

100 200 300 

Nonwhite women: 

1939 to 1964 

1955 to 1964 

I960 to 1964 

Nonwhite men: 

1939 to 1964 

1955 to 1964 

I960 to 1964 

White men: 

1939 to 1964 

1955 to 1964 

I960 to 1964 

White women: 

1939 to 1964 

1955 to 1964 

I960 to 1964 

7.6 

1266.1 

41.1 

7.9 

30.7 

] 200.2 

104.9 

9.5 

llOO.I 

F

^ie.i 

8.0 

Sourc«: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 

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Table 1,—Percent Distribution of the Negro Population, by Age and Sex, 

1965, 1961*, I960, 19^0 

Hal* 

•m—55S5 — 

F«utl« 

wSo 1^501/ 

Nuiriser (in thousands) 10,01*6 9,970 9,098 7,269 10,898 10,769 9,751 

Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Under 5 years ll*.9 1-5:5 13.0 •ijrs 

5 to 13 years 23.3 23.2 22.2 16.0 21.6 21.5 20.7 

l U to 19 years 11.3 11.1 9.9 9.9 11.0 10.7 9.U 

20 to 2U years 6.7 6.1* 6.3 7.8 7.0 6.9 6.6 

25 to 29 years 5.3 5.5 6.0 8.0 6.0 6.0 6.5 

30 to 31* years 5.3 5.6 6.2 7.0 6.0 6.1 6.8 

35 to Iti* years 11.1 11.3 11.8 13.7 11.8 12.0 12.6 

1j5 to 51i years 9.3 9.1i 9.7 10.6 9.7 9.6 10.0 

55 to 6U years 6.9 6.5 6.9 6.3 6.9 6.7 7.0 

65 years and over 5.8 5.8 5.9 5.7 6.1* 6.6 6.1* 

Median age 20.1* 20.1* 22.3 ?5.8 22.7 22.9 2U.5 

7,758 

100.0 

17.0 

9.8 

8.6 

8.6 

7.6 

IU.3 

10.3 

5.7 

5.9 

26.h 

"y 

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

P-20, Nos. 1U5 ami 1U2. 

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Table 2.—Percent Dlstribu^iion of the Population, by Race, Faim or Nonfam Residence, 

and Region, 196k, 196o,and 1950 

Bealdence end region 196k i960 

1950 

(census) 

Vlhite Negro White Negro White Negro 

Number (in thousands) l67,Olt6 20,739 158,838 l8,8It9 15,02+2 

Residence 

Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Nonfaim 

FBJm 

93 A 

6.6 

93.1 

6.9 

9e.5 7.5 9e.i 

7.9 

85.1^ 

l/lk.6 

79.0 

1/21.0 

Region 

Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Northeast 

North Central 

South 

Vest 

26.1 

2 9A 

2 7A 

17.1 

18.1 

19. 

8.1 

26.1 

30.2 

16.3 

16.0 

18.3 

60.0 5.7 

27.7 

31.2 

27.3 

13.8 

13 A 

14.8 

68.0 

3.8 

I 

^ These figures exclude urban faim residents. (Among vhites this amounted to 0.2 percent.) 

Sofurce: U.S. Department of Ccoimerce, Bureau of the Census: Current Population Reports, P-20, 

Ko. ikZ, and 1950 U-S. Censoia of Population. 

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Table 3.—Marital Stattis of Women i n the Popxaation, 

by Race, March 196!^ 

(Women 18 years of age and over) 

Marital statxis 

White 

Ifumber 

Percent 

distribution 

Negro 

Kumber 

Percent 

distribution 

Total 

Single 

Married (hiisband present) 

Other 1/ 

6,686,000 

38,284,000 

31,085,000 

100.0 6,152,000 100.0 

11. 9 

68.3 

19. 8 

727,00 0 

3,290,000 

2,131^,000 

11.8 

53.5 

i j Refers t o vonen -who are vldoved, divorced, or separated, or iihose husbands 

are absent for other reasons. 

Source: U.S. Department of Cccmierce, Bureau of the Census: Current Popuf 

latio n Reports, P-20, Hos. 135 and ikZ. 

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T^l e Families, by Type of Family and Race, 

March 1964 

Typ9 of family White Negro 

Number 

Percent 

Husband-wife 

Other male head 

Female head 

1,2,663,000 

100.0 

- 5 0 

2.5 

8.9 

U,UU0,000 

100.0 

I T E 

3.6 

23.8 

Median nuadser o f menbers 

per family 3.6 U.3 

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of 

the Census: Current Population Reports, P-20, No. Ili2« 

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Table 5.—Families Living i n Poverty i n 1963, by Type of 

Family and Color, March I96U 

lype of familyA l l 

families 

Poor families 

Number 

As percent 

of 

a l l families 

White 

Total 

Husband-wife 

Male head (without wife) 

Female head 

Total 

Husband-wife 

Male head (without wife) 

Female head 

U2,663,000 5>lg8,000 

37,799,000 

1,067,000 

3,797,000 

773.000 

3,511,000 

177,000 

1,085,000 

3,818,000 

155,00 0 

1,185,000 

Nonwhite 

2t027,000 

1,20U,000 

55,000 

768,000 

12.1 

10.1 

ili.5 

31.2 

ii2.5 

3U.3 

31.2 

70.8 

Sourcet U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Social 

Security Administration: Social Security Bulletin, Januaiy 1965* 

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Tabl<) 6.«-aq)lo7ment Status of the Population, by Sex azid Eace« 

March 196U 

(Persons 18 years of age and over) 

White Negro 

fi^^loyment status 

Number 

Percent 

distribution Nuaber 

Percent 

distribution 

Wcnen 

Population y 55,369,000 100.0 6,081,000 100.0 

Civilia n labor force 21,182,000 38.3 2,958,000 U8.6 

Siployed 

Unen^oyed 

20,031,000 

l,lli8,000 

36.2 

2.1 

2,619,000 

339,000 

1*3.1 

5.6 

Less than 2$ weeks 

15 weeks or more 

837,000 

311,000 

1.5 

.6 

2U8,000 

91,000 

U.1 

1.5 

Not i n the labor force 3U,187,000 61.7 

Men 

3,123,000 51.1* 

Population U9s576,000 100.0 5,039,000 100.0 

Civilia n labor force 141,030,000 82.8 li. 171.000 82.8 

E^loyed 

Unen^loyed 

39,086,000 

l,9Ui,000 

78.8 

3.9 

3,757,000 

1014,000 

7U.6 

8.2 ' 

Less than 15 weeks 

15 weeks or aore 

1,28U,0C0 

660,000 

2.6 

1.3 

261,000 

153,000 

5.2 

3.0 

Not i n the labor force 8,5U6,000 17.2 868,000 17.2 

y Excludes ionates of institutions and menibers of the Azised Forces. 

Source: U.S. D^artinent of Comaerce, Bureau of the Census: Current Population 

Reports, P-20, No. Iii2, and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics* 

Special Labor Force Heport No. 53. 

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Table T'—Enployment Statvm of the Populatito, by Sex 

and Color, i960 and 1950 

(Persons I8 years of a^e and over) 

i960 

Etaiployment 

8t«t\UI 

Etaiployment Women Men Women Men 

8t«t\UI White Nororhite White Nonwhite White Nonwhite White Nonwhite 

Rtmber 53,182,610 6,177,090 »^8,509,U53 5,UIJ6,559 5,159,190 UU,665,J+70 4,716,000 

Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Civilia n labor force 35.3 1^5.3 82.6 78.1 29.3 39.6 83. If 81.2 

Employed 33.7 J+1.5 78.9 Tl.lv 28.2 36.5 79.7 7^.9 

Unemployed 1.7 3.8 3.7 6.7 1.1 3.1 3.8 6.3 

Not i n the labor force 61^.7 5U.7 17.u 21.9 70.7 60.k 16.6 18.8 

1/ Excliidea members of the Armed Forces • 

Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census: i960 Census of Population, Special Report 

PC(2)~6A; and 1950 Census of Population, Special Report PE No. lA. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 8.~\tanen i n the Civilian Labor Force, by Age and Race, 

March 196^^ 

(WcDien 18 years of age and over) 

Age 

A l l vcmen Negro women 

Age 

Hmber 

Percent 

distribution 

As percent of 

wooan 

population 

Number 

Percent 

distribution 

As percent of 

voman 

population 

Total 2l^,326,000 100.0 39.3 2,958,000 100.0 W .6 

18 t o Zh years 18.2 k99,000 16.9 k6.9 

25 to 29 years 2,103,000 8.6 - 37.8 337,000 11.1^ 52.U 

30 t o years 2,096,000 8.6 3T.1 337,000 11.If 51.6 

35 t o Mf years 5,585,000 23.0 J A . 7 721^,000 2U.5 56.3 

t o 5l^ years 5,659,000 23.3 51A 61t2,000 21.7 62.6 

55 years and over 1^,1^54,000 18,3 2lf.7 Ul9,000 Ik.2 29.8 

M 

VO 

Soxirce: U.S. Department of Ccomerce, Bureau of the Census: Current Population Reports, P-20, Ko. 142, 

and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics : Ehiployment and Earnings, Apri l 19^ . 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.!Pal3le ^.—Marital Statxas of Negro Wcmen in the Civilian Labor Force^ 

March 1964 

(Women l 8 years of age and over) 

Marital status Rumber 

Percent 

distribution 

As percent 

of woman 

population 

Total 

Single 

Married (husband present) 

Other y 

1^39,000 

1,510,000 

1,012,000 

100.0 

14.8 

51.0 

34.2 

48.6 

60.6 

46.0 

48.9 

tJ Refers to vmea vho are widowed, divorced, or separated, or 

vfaosa husbands ere absent for other reasons. 

Source: U.S. Depertaaest of Ccoimerce, Bureau of the Census: 

Current Population ReportB, P-20, Ho. l42. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 10.—Percent of Nonfiam Family Income i n I963 Contributed 

by Wife, by Color, March •196k 

Wife's contribution to 

nonfaxm family Income 

Percent 

White 

distribution 

Honwhite 

Total 100.0 100.0 

Less than 5.0 percent 22.8 18. 

5.0 t o 9.9 percent 8.1 7.2 

10.0 to 19.9 percent lit.7 16.3 

20.0 to 29.9 percent 15.5 18.8 

30.0 t o 39-9 percent 16.9 14. U 

^0.0 to 1^9.9 percent 11.9 11.6 

50.0 to 7U.9 percent 8.1 11.2 

75.0 percent and over 2 .1 2.2 

Median percent 22.9 2U.3 

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics : 

Special Labor Force Report No. ^O* 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 11.--Mothers i n the Population and Labor Force,ly Marital Status, 

Ages of Children, and Color, March 19^5 

(Mothers ih years of age and over) 

Percent distribution Percent 

MBrltfil ststiis and 

•ges of children Population 

Labor 

force Population 

Labor 

force 

In 

labor force 

White 

Mothers vlt h children under l 8 years 8,283 100.0 100.0 33.6 

Married, fausbcuod present 

Other vonen ever married i j 

22,5^^6 

12,118 

7,021 

1,262 

9 1A 

8.6 

81^.8 

15.2 

31.1 

59.6 

Mothers with children 6 t o 17 

(none under 6) 11,881 UQ.2 63.8 lfJt.5 

Married, husband present 

Other vcmen ever married i j 

10,51^5 

1,336 

l^,392 

892 

hZ.Q 

5 A 

53.0 

10.8 

41.7 

66.8 

Mothers with children under 6 ^ 12,783 36.2 23.5 

Married, husband present 

Other wanen ever married l / 

12,001 

782 

2,629 

370 

1*8.7 

3.2 

31.7 21.9 

1^7.3 

I 

IS 

I 

See footnotes at end of table. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table U.^^Mothers i n the Population and Labor Force,by Marital Status, 

Agea of Children, and Color, March 196^-Continued 

(Mothers years of age and over) 

Number (in thousardfl) Percent distribution Perceit 

Marital status and 

ages of children Population 

Labor 

force Population 

Labor 

force 

i n 

labor force 

Nonwhite 

Mothers with children under I8 years 1,399 100.0 100.0 1^6.3 

Married, husband present 

Other women ever married l / 

2,171 

850 

932 

k67 

71.9 

28.1 

66.6 

33.^ 1(2.9 

51^.9 

Mothers with children 6 to 17 

(none under 6) 1,238 Ifl.O 51.2 57.8 

Married^ husband present 788 

1^50 

W -

272 

26.1 

U . 9 

31.7 56.3 

60.4 

Mothers with children under 6 ^ I1T83 683 1^8.8 38.3 

Married, hiisbaM present 

Other traaen ever married l / 

1,383 

UCX) 

km 

195 

U5.8 

13.2 13.9 

35.3 1^8.8 

} J Refers to voaen -who are widowed, divorced or separated, or whose husbands are absent for other 

reasoiib. 

2/ M ^ alao have older children i n addition to one or more under 6. 

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics : Special Labor Force Report No. 6h. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 12.--Child Care Arrangements of Working Mothers With Children Under 

Ih Years of Age, by Ages of Children and Color, Febinary I965 

Type o f arrangeoen arrangeoent Total Ibider 6 years 6 to 11 years 12 and 13 years 

White Romrtilte White Nonwhite White Hbmrtilte White Ncsnifaite 

Number of children 

(in thousands) 10,056 2,231 3,066 730 1^,953 1,137 2,037 365 

Percent 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

aamm — m^m — mmm — 

Care In chllda cfvn heme by-- kh Ji§ M i i l J i l ^ ^ 

mthar 16 10 16 9 16 11 15 9 

Other relative 19 28 15 28 22 31 21 22 

Ibider 16 years k 7 1 5 6 9 5 3 

16 t o 6h years 11 19 n 20 12 20 12 17 

years and over k 2 3 3 k 3 3 2 

Monrelative vfao oaLy looked 

afte r chil d 5 h 9 6 k 1 1 

Hdnrelatlve vho also did 

household chores 6 1 8 1 5 1 2 - -

Care In someone else' s hone bo^- ^ 28 la 10 I ji k 8 

Relative 7 12 13 2k 5 7 3 If 

Hanrelative 8 10 15 18 5 8 1 k 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 12.—Child Care Arramgecents of Working Mothers With Children Uader 

Ik Tears of Age, hy Ages of Children and Color, Bebruaay 1965--Continued 

l^rpe of arrangaoen arrangaoent Total Under 6 years 6 to 11. years 12 and 13 years 

White Honwhite White Honwhite White Nonvhlte White Konwhite 

Otber arxwageo^nts Sit i 5 it2 i 2 

Grov^ care (day care center, etc. ) 2 2 6 6 1 1 

Child looked after self 8 10 1 — 7 l o 26 

Mother looked after child vhlle 

vorklng Ik 8 16 9 Ik 7 11 9 

Mother vorked only during child*a 

school hours 15 13 1 1 21 18 2k 23 

Other arrangements (i/ ) 1 y ) 1 1 2 

I 

tSi 

y Less than 1 percent. 

Source: U.S. Departaaent of Health, Education, azil Welfare, Welfare Administration, Children's Bureau, 

and U*S. Department of Labor, Vonen's Bureau. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 13^—-Major Occupational Groups of Biqployed Negro Men and 

Wonen^ March 196h 

(Persons l 8 years of age and over) 

Major occupational 

group 

Number 

(in thousands) 

Percent 

distribution 

Toftal 

Professional, technical workers 

Managers, officials , proprietors 

(except faun) 

Clerical, sales workers 

Craftsmen, foz^emen 

Operatives 

Nonfam laborers 

Service workers (including 

private-household) 

Faarm workers 

Total 

Professional, technical workers 

Managers, officials , proprietors 

(except farm) 

Clerical, sales workers 

Craftsmen, foremen, operatives 

Nonfam laborers 

Service workers (except privatehousehold) 

Private-household workers 

Fann workers 

Men 

WcBien 

100.0 

178,000 h.7 

107,000 2 .8 

27lf,000 7.3 

li04,000 10.8 

1,005,000 26.7 

831,000 22.1 

638,000 17.0 

321,000 8.5 

1/2,619,000 100.0 

186,000 7 .1 

lie,000 1 .8 

287,000 11.0 

381,000 

17,000 0.6 

678,000 25.9 

979>000 

43,000 1 .6 

1/ Excludes Inmates of institutions and al l members of the Aimed Forces. 

Source: U.S. Department of Coanerce, Bureau of the Census: Current 

Population Reports, P-20, No. ikZ. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table i k .—Major Occupational Groxips of Bnplpyed Horrwhite Women and Men, 

i960 and 1950 

(Persons 18 years of age and over) 

Major occupational 

groiq^ 

Women 

1950 " W 

Mfin 

1950 

Rumber 2,565,000 1,882,000 3,887,000 3,528,000 

Percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Professional, technical vorkers 7.6 5.6 k.o 2.3 

Teachers (except college) h,2 3.6 .9 .5 

Managers, officials , proprietor s (except farm) 1.2 l.k 2.3 2.4 

Clerical, kindred workers 8.7 5.2 3.2 

Sales vorkers 1 .7 l.k 1.4 1.2 

Craftsmen, foremen .7 .6 10.U 8.0 

Operatives 13.0 lh.9 23.8 21.1 

Nonfarm laborers 1 .0 1.5 19.3 23.1 

Service vorkers (except privatehousehold) 21.0 18.9 13.7 13.5 

Private-household vorkers 33.9 U0.9 .7 1.1 

Esrmers, fa m managers .6 1 .8 13.9 

Faim laborers, foremen 2 .7 6.9 8.8 

Occ\q?fttion not reported 7 .9 1.5 8.2 1.3 

Source: U.S. Department of Ccemerce, Bureau of the CensuB: i960 U.S. Census of Population, 

Special Report PC(2)—7A; 1950 US. Census of population. Special Beport P-E, No. 1-B. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
TaKL« l^.^lftMnplagpnaztt Ratea Ijy Sex, Color, aal Age, Selected Years 

igj't-b? aad Apri l 1966 

(Psraatia 14 years of age and over) 

Coler taad cga Apri l 

1966 1965 196k 1963 1962 1961 i960 1957 195^ 

White 

1^19 years J2.2 12.6 13.2 13.6 11.5 13.5 11.9 9.1 9.9 

20 y«ara and orer 3.3 if.O lf.6 4.1 5.7 4.6 3.8 5.1 

Boowfaita 

1^19 yearn 31.0 29.8 30.6 33.1 28.2 26.6 22.7 18.9 18,4 

20 yeara and over 5.8 7 A 9.0 9.6 10.6 8.3 6.3 8.5 

I'tei 

Vhita 

llt-19 ye«ra 9.7 11.8 13. 14.2 12.3 14.1 12.9 10.5 11.7 

20 years and over 2 .1 2 .9 3.9 4.0 5.1 4.2 3.2 4.4 

floQHhite 

lk-19 yaars 19-5 22.6 23.3 25.4 20.7 24.7 22.0 17.5 12.5 

20 years and over 6.0 7.7 9.2 10.0 11.7 9.6 7.5 9.9 

I 

I 

Source: U.S. Departnseirt of Labor, Manpower Report of the Preaidentj A Beport on Maaqjower Requirements, 

Besources, Utilisation , aad Training, Iterdii I966 and Bureau of Labor Statistics : BcployBient and Earnings, 

May 1966. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table l6.—Unemployment Rates, by Sex, Years of School Completed, 

and Race, March 1964 

(persons l 8 years of age and over) 

Years of school ccanpleted White Negro 

Men 

Less than 8 years l / 8.1 9.6 

High school, 1 to% years 4.6 10.9 

College, 1 year or more 2.4 6.1 

Women 

Less than 8 years l / 8.8 10.0 

High school, 1 to years 5-7 13-8 

College, 1 year or more 3.2 3.2 

1 / Incl\ides no school years completed. 

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

Current Population Reports, P-20, No. l42. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 17•—School BarolUnent of the Poptilation 5 to Years of Age, 

tjy Bace aod Sex, October 19Sk i j 

Girl s and vcnen Boys and men 

AB As 

Age percent of percent of 

Ifumber population Ihoiber population 

3?ortia 2l^.809.000 55.3 26,§'a.999 62.3 

5 years 1,379,000 68.1 1,1^35,000 68.8 

6 years 1,985,000 9 8A 2,0lf3,000 98.1 

7 t o 13 years 13,177,000 99.2 13,5^8,000 98.8 

llf t o 17 years 6,356,000 91.8 6,658,000 

18 and 19 years 958,000 33.7 1,238,000 50.9 

20 to years 716,000 10.9 1,332,000 23.8 

25 t o 29 years 1W,000 2.6 lni,000 8.1 

30 t o 3^^ years 90,000 1.9 186,000 3.6 

Total 3.093.000 56.9 3.098.000 62.3 

5 years 172,000 61.2 175,000 6U.3 

6 years 270,000 99.3 261,000 97.^ 

7 t o 13 years l,7l^5,O00 99.5 1,706,000 98.5 

l U t o 17 years 716,000 88.0 752,000 91.9 

16 and 19 years 102,000 31.7 116,000 39.9 

20 to 2h years 57,000 8.1 51,000 8.3 

23 t o 29 years i8,ocio 2 .8 17,000 3.5 

30 t o 3^ years 13,000 2.0 20,000 k.o 

i j Includes schools In regular school system, that Is public , parochial, and 

private schools offering a dlplcoa or a degree* 

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

Rq>orts, P-20, Ho. iW . 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table l8—-LevalB of School Attended by Students 5 to Years of Age, 

by Race and Sex, October 1964 l / 

Girla and •wmen Bocsrs tmA iBfin 

Level of school 

Number 

Percent 

distribution Sumber 

Percent 

diBtrlbution 

Total school enrollment 

. Total 2l|,809,000 100.0 26.851.000 100.0 

Elementary school or kindergarten 

H l ^ school 

College 

16,698,000 

6,353,000 

1,755,000 

67.3 

25.6 

7 .1 

17,505,000 

6,lf59,000 

2,887,000 

65.2 

2h.l 

10.8 

t Hegro school enrollment 

VS 

1 

Tetal 3i0?3I000 100.0 3,098,000 100.0 

KLenantaiy scheol or kindergarten 

Blf^ achool 

College 

2,272,000 

702,000 

11U,000 

73.6 

22.7 3.7 

2,273,000 

706,000 

120,000 

73.3 

22.8 

3.9 

y Ihcludai 0Chools In regular achool Bystem; that la public , parochial, and private schoola, offering 

a dipIoDa or a degree. 

Source: U-S. Departaamit of Coomierce, Bureau of the Census: uu. ropoiation Reports, P-30, No. ihQ. 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Table 19—Educational Attalment of the Population, by 

Race and Sex, March 1964 

(Persons l 8 years of age and over) 

Years of school 

completed 

White 

Women Men Women 

Negro 

Men 

Number 

Percent 

Elementary school: 

None 

Less than 8 years 

8 years 

High school: 

1 to 3 years 

If years 

College: 

1 year or more 

55,369,000 1^9,576,000 6,081,000 5,039,000 

100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

1.2 

11.6 

Ik.O 

18.6 

37.5 

17.1 

1.3 

13-6 

15.0 

18.0 

29. 

22.8 

2.2 

28.8 

11.8 

25.3 

22.9 

9.1 

33.7 11.5 

21^.4 

16.6 

9.5 

Median years of school 

ccBtpleted 12.1 12.1 9.9 9.0 

Source: U.S. Department of Cooanerce, Bureau of the Censiis: Cunrettt Population 

Reports, 3^-20, No.ll|2, and U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics : 

Special Labor Force Report No. 53• 

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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis