The Omaha guide., 1945-02-03

pidNO III ulC lidiC 1NCSlO ldDOI lOl &c
during the war. Between 1910 and
1914, the number of Negroes en-
ployed as skilled craftsmen and fore
men doubled, as did the number en-
gagged as Operatives" j. e. perform
ing the basic semiskilled factory OBJ
erations- Altogether, the number in
both categories rose from about 500
900 to a total of about 1000, 900 dur
ing the 4 years covering the Nation>
al Defense Program and the entry
of the United States into the war.
In contrast the number on farms,
either as farm operators, or laborers
decreased by about 100000. Ii,
terms of the total numbers involved
the other changes were small.
THE number of Negro men work
ing as proprietors, managers, and
officials increased so percent in the
4-year period, but in April 1914 still
had moi reached $4,000.
Slightly over 7 Of every 10 EN-
ployed Negro women were in some
service activity in April 1910, and
the great majority of these were
domestic servants. After 4 years,
the proportion in the services had
decreased only slightly, although a
significant internal shift had occurr-
ed. The proportion working as do
rneStic servants showed a marked il,
crease, while those engaged in the
personal services, e. G. as beauticians
cooks, mattresses, etc, showed a cor
responding increase. 1t is interesting
to note, in this connection, that the
actual number of Negro domestics
showed a slight increase between
1910 and 1914 (about 10000, but
it was not enough to counterbalancs
the decline Of 100000 among white
domestic servants.
ASA mong the men, the most pro-
nounced occupational shift amone
Negro women was the shift from the
farm to the factory. In April 1910,
16 percent of the entire female Ne
gro labor force was on farms: 4
years later, that propotion had been
halved. The total number Of Ne
gro women employed had increased
by about a third; the number en-
ployed on farms had decreased by a
bout 30 percent. On the other hand
Negro women employed as crafts
men aSd foremen and as factory op-
eratives almost quadrupled during
the same period.
mo significant changes occurred
in any of the other major occupa-
tional groups. Percentage increases
were large; the number Of Negro
women working as proprietors, mar
ayers, Of officials tripled, those work
ing as saleswomen almost doubled,
and those engaged as clerical work
ers rose to a number five times a.
great as in April 1910. The actual
numbers involved were very small,
however, and made little difference
in the o%ccupational distribution Of
the employed Negro women.
NEGROES POSITION IN
TOTAL LABOR FORCE.
1910 and 1914 .....
1T is evident from the foregoing
that Negro workers have experience
ed a considerable amount of upgrad-
ing; by April 1914 both men and
women were engaged in skilled ana
semiskilled factory operations which
few had performed before the war
Nevertheless, a considerable proper
ton OF the Negro labor force was
still engaged in unskilled occupations
and service activities. Thus, / in ev,
cry 5 Negro men was working as all
unskilled laborer in April 1910: al
! ter 4 years, the proportion engaged
in that activity remained the same.
The same situation was found il.
practically every other major occuu
ational group.
The employment distribution OF
Negro women followed the same pa,
tern. Despite their large increases
already noted, in clerical position,
and as saleswomen, the total in thes,
occupational groups numbered les,
than 100000 in April 1914, as com