Conditions governing the labor supply in the steel plant itself, on the other hand, are less local in their character. In the case of the locality under discussion, there has been a constant growth and expansion, as described elsewhere in this report. As a consequence there has been a constantly growing demand for labor which has been met in the following manner:

(1) By the availability as unskilled workmen of immigrant labor from (a) other steel sections in this country, (b) other plants in the locality, and (c) immigrants constantly coming in from Europe.

(2) By the increase in the number of skilled workers from the following sources: (a) Children of native and immigrant employees; (b) promotion of native and immigrant from unskilled work.

(3) By the use of labor-saving machinery, both in the skilled and unskilled occupations.

Raw immigrants for unskilled labor, according to the statements of the larger employers, have been unquestionably the greatest source of labor supply during the last decade, and the tendency during the past twenty years has been to rely on this source in an increasing degree. The tendency during the last ten years or less has been to rely on the second generation of immigrants more and more for skilled labor, although this has never reached the proportion in which unskilled occupations are filled by immigrants. Thus in a community where what may be termed fairly average conditions exist in the native labor supply the reason for the employment of immigrants is undoubtedly the scarcity of a native labor supply. Inasmuch as the wages paid in the various occupations in this locality, as shown by accompanying tables, are about on a par with wages paid in similar occupations in other localities, it is evident that the causes of the scarcity itself are to be found in more general labor conditions.

CHAPTER V.

INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS AND EFFICIENCY.

Relation between earning ability of foreign-born employees and period of residence in the United States-Relation between earning ability and the time which employees have worked for a representative steel company-Opinions of employers as to progress of immigrant employees-Races of immigrant labor preferred by employersEmployers' statements as to the efficiency of immigrant industrial workers-[Text Tables 287 to 292].

RELATION BETWEEN EARNING ABILITY OF FOREIGN-BORN EMPLOYEES AND PERIOD OF RESIDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

The following table shows the proportion of foreign-born male employees 18 years of age or over earning each specified amount per week, according to race and length of residence in the United States: TABLE 287.—Per cent of foreign-born male employees 18 years of age or over earning each specified amount per week, by race and length of residence in the United States.*

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. This table includes only races with 200 or more males reporting.]

This table shows wages or earnings for the period indicated, but no account is taken of voluntary lost time or lost time from shutdowns or other causes. In the various tables in this report showing annual earnings allowance is made for time lost during the year.

That length of residence in the United States materially affects, upon the whole, the earning capacity of the foreign-born male employees of the various races is apparent from the above table. By way of illustration, it will be noted that, with the exception of the Poles, each race, the representatives of which earn $10, $12.50, and $15 or over per week, shows a larger proportion with a residence

of from five to nine, than under five, and a larger proportion with a residence of ten years or over than of from five to nine years, earning each specified amount per week. This is equally true of the Poles, in so far as those with a residence of less than five, and from five to nine years is concerned, while, as regards those with a residence of ten years or over, it will be noted that the proportion earning each above specified amount is not only considerably smaller than the proportion of those with a residence of from five to nine years, but is, with the exception of the proportion earning $12.50 or over per week, also smaller than the proportion of those with a residence in the United States of less than five years. To those earning $17.50 or over per week, the above exception will not apply, as the proportion of each race earning this amount increases with the length of residence. While only small proportions of each race earn $20, $22.50, and $25 or over per week, it will be noted that, with but a single exception, where a proportion earning each amount is reported in one or more periods of residence groups, the proportion, with a residence of ten years or over, earning these amounts is in excess of the proportion in either of the preceding groups.

The table next submitted also shows the relation between length of residence and earning capacity. In this table the races are grouped by periods of residence in order that the comparative progress may be studied.

TABLE 288.-Comparative earnings per week of foreign-born male employees 18 years of age or over, by race and length of residence in the United States.*

(STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.)

[By years in the United States is meant years since first arrival in the United States. The table includes only races with 200 or more males reporting.]

IN UNITED STATES LESS THAN 5 YEARS.

This table shows wages or earnings for the period indicated, but no account is taken of voluntary lost time or lost time from shutdowns or other causes. In the various tables in this report showing annual earnings allowance is made for time lost during the year.

Among those who have been in the United States under five years, the greater proportion of Poles earn $10 or over a week. Slightly less than 50 per cent of the Germans and Magyars earn that amount and only 23.1 per cent of the Slovaks. In the group of those who have lived in the United States five to nine years the Poles still show the highest percentage of earnings. In the higher wage groups the earnings of the Slovaks on the whole have advanced more rapidly than those of the Germans or the Magyars. In the group of persons who have lived in the United States ten years or more the Germans are the most highly paid. The other races have also changed their relative position, the Magyars in general being better paid than the Poles or Slovaks.

RELATION

BETWEEN EARNING

ABILITY

AND THE TIME WHICH EMPLOYEES HAVE WORKED FOR A REPRESENTATIVE COMPANY.

STEEL

The relative increase in earning capacity among the employees of the different races is also shown by a study of the records of Steel Company No. 1. The earnings of the employees of this company, covering about 19,000 persons, were secured for the pay period June 1-15, 1907. The men then employed in the establishment who began work five years earlier, ten years earlier, fifteen years earlier, and twenty years earlier, respectively, have been classified according to earnings in 1907 and race. As practically all of these men began work as unskilled laborers, at the lowest rates of pay, their present earnings constitute an indication of their ability to advance. The tables follow:

TABLE 289.-Number of piece workers earning each specified amount, by race and length of employment.*

a See history of wage scale of this company, pp. 440-452.

*This table shows wages or earnings for the period indicated, but no account is taken of voluntary lost time or lost time from shutdowns or other causes. In the various tables in this report showing annual earnings allowance is made for time lost during the year.