Evening star., 1939-01-12
Workers Over 40
Held More Numerous
Than Before Slump
Manufacturer Group
Survey Disputes
Popular Notion

The employment status of work.
ers over 40 has been presented in
new light through the results of
a survey by the National Association
of Manufacturers revealing there
are more workers in this age bracket
In industrial employment now than
before the depression.
No companies discharge workers
when they reach 40, it was found,
and less than per cent of the COM
panies in the survey indicate that
they give preference to younger
workers when it is necessary to make
layoffs. Statistics showed that when
layoffs were made in 1878, work.
ers 40 and over generally received
preference in retention.
The survey was based on statistics
compiled from 2,485 questionnaires
from representative industrial enter
prises employing total of 1884. .538
workers. Howard M. Coonley, New
York, president of N. A. NJ, and
chairman of the Walworth Co., COM
municated the results to Secretary
Of Labor Perkins.
Survey Paints New Picture.
The associations report said "a
new factual picture of workers 40
and over emerges from this survey.
Contrary to unsubstantiated opinion,
employment statistics as reported
In this survey, compared with pre-
Vous surveys of industrial workers
for 1928 and 1928, show no decline
in the proportion Of industrial en-
ployment at the age of 40. It is
evident from all the information
submitted that industry evaluates
Its older workers very highly. It is
apparent that workers 40 and
over constitute vital and dynamic
part of industry, their skill and
strong loyalties being of inestimable
Importance in the industrial unit"
The survey was undertaken in
cooperation with the American
Legion, Disabled American Veterans
and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Most Have No Age Ceiling.
Other high points of the industrial
investigation revealed:
"Eighty-nine and one-tenth per
cent of the companies queried have
no maximum hiring age limit; rs
per cent have such limits; 3.4 per
cent do not answer this point.
''Thirty-eight and three -tenths
per cent of the companies give pref
erence in hiring to workers below
10, principally because of training
and apprenticeship requirements,
and because of the physical demands
made by certain tasks.
"The results, compared with SINH
lar surveys for earlier years, show
no lessened proportion of employ
ment Of workers between 40 and so,
but do indicate slight decrease in
industrial employment after age so.
"A substantial portion of employees
hired in 1888 are 40 or over.
"A larger percentage of employees
was 40 or over in 1888 than in 1887
Employers Comparisons.
employers have the following
views on the work performance of
employees 40 and over as compared
with younger employees:
Illness --- 1897 65.7eo 1857
Efficiency - 337eo 509To 15.4go
Cooperation 512eo 1857 500
Accident Risk 1887 559eo 3O.35
Psychological
Adjustment 1907 502% 1880
Analyzing these percentages, the
report said employment figures for
1887 and 1888 reveal 'the interesting
fact that the proportion of older
workers In 1898 is 1919 per cent
higher than it was in 1887, which
would indicate that employers have
given preference in retention of
workers to those 40 and over.
20ee of Workers 40 to 40.
statistics of age distribution for
1887 demonstrate that the propor-
ton of workers between the ages of
40 and 49 maintained the high level
OF 20.03 per cent of total employment
reported by age groups" The latter
figure rose to 20.43 per cent for 1888.
Another important question,
whether industry hired and rehires
older workers, also was answered
Statistics from $50 companies re-
vealed the number of workers 40
and over hired and rehired by them
In 1888 constituted 84 per cent of
their total employment for the year.
The survey showed 1912 per cent
of the companies answering the
queries have some kind of retire.
ment plan and 633 per cent carry
group insurance. Only a few COM
panies reported higher industrial
insurance rates for older workers
WAS factor cansiran than ta e,i.a