GENERAL OCCUPATION OF MALES AT THE PRESENT TIME, IN THE HOUSEHOLDS STUDIED. The following table shows, by general nativity and race of individual, the general occupation of males who were 16 years of age or over in the households studied in the Birmingham district: TABLE 671.--General occupation of males 16 years of age or over, by general nativity and race of individual. (STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.) [This table includes only races with 20 or more males reporting. The totals, however, are for all races.] In this locality 55.5 per cent of the individuals for whom information was secured were employed in the iron and steel industry, 41.9 per cent were otherwise employed, and only a very small proportion were at home or at school. The proportion of individuals employed in the iron and steel industry was 57.3 per cent for both the nativeborn negro and the total foreign-born, and only 19 per cent for the native-born of foreign father. On the other hand, the proportion of individuals otherwise employed is largest for the households the heads of which were native-born of foreign father, and is slightly larger for the native-born negro than for the total foreign-born. Of the foreignborn, the Greeks, Macedonians, and South Italians, in the order mentioned, have the largest, and the Slovaks, French, and Scotch the smallest, proportions of individuals employed in the iron and steel industry. WEEKLY EARNINGS. The table next presented shows, by general nativity and race, the percentage of male employees 18 years of age or over earning each specified amount per week. TABLE 672.—Per cent of male employees 18 years of age or over earning each specified amount per week, by general nativity and race.* (STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.) [This table includes only races with 80 or more males reporting. The totals, however, are for all races.] *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. Of the 5,161 male employees in this locality for whom information was obtained, 58 per cent earn $10 or over per week, 34.5 per cent earn $12.50 or over per week, 23.9 per cent $15 or over, 15.2 per cent $17.50 or over, 9.2 per cent $20 or over, 5.7 per cent $22.50 or over, and 3.6 per cent $25 or over, while 3 per cent earn under $7.50 per week. The native-born of foreign father, while showing a slightly smaller proportion earning $10 or over, show a considerably larger proportion earning each other specified amount than do the whites native-born of native father. The negroes native-born of native father, while showing a slightly larger proportion earning $10 or over, show a slightly smaller proportion earning each of the other specified amounts than is reported for the foreign-born. As regards the foreign-born, it will be noted that no Greeks, and only 5.6 per cent of the South Italians, earn under $7.50 per week, and that no Greeks, and only 1 per cent of the South Italians, earn $15 or over per week. By far the largest proportion of both Greeks and South Italians earn between $7.50 and $10 per week. The Greeks, however, with 5.5 per cent, show a slightly larger proportion earning $12.50 or over per week than do the South Italians. RELATION BETWEEN PERIOD OF RESIDENCE AND EARNING ABILITY. The tendency for earning ability to increase as the period of residence in this country is extended is shown by the table following which exhibits, by race and length of residence in the United States, the percentage of foreign-born male employees 18 years of age or over who were earning weekly each specified amount. TABLE 673.—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 caus. In the various tables in this report showing annual earnings allowance is made for time lost during the year. As a general rule, the South Italians reporting show an increased earning ability as the length of residence in the United States increases. By way of illustration, only 8.6 per cent of those who have been in the United States under 5 years earn $10 or over per week, as compared with 21.4 per cent of those who have been in the United States from five to nine years, and 13.3 per cent of those who have been in the United States ten years or over. This may be even better illustrated by reference to the columns showing the proportions earning $12.50, $15, and $17.50, or over per week. This race report no proportions with a residence of less than five years, earning these specified amounts, as compared with 5.4, 3.6, and 3.6 per cent, respectively, of those who have been in the United States from five to nine years. It will also be seen that of those who have been in the United States ten years or over, the proportions of those earning $12.50 and $15 or over, are in excess of the proportions shown by those with a residence of from five to nine years. ANNUAL EARNINGS OF MALE HEADS OF FAMILIES STUDIED. The table submitted below shows, by general nativity and race of individual, husbands at work in the households studied, together with their average annual earnings: TABLE 674.-Husbands at work, by general nativity and race of individual. The preceding table shows that all the native-born and 97.2 per cent of the foreign-born husbands are at work. The average annual earnings of the husbands who are native-born whites are $521, as contrasted with $368 of the total foreign-born and $486 of the nativeborn negro. Among the foreign-born husbands, the highest average annual earnings are shown by the Scotch, and the lowest by the South Italians. The annual earnings of both the English and Scotch are in excess of the earnings of the native-born whites. The following table exhibits, by general nativity and race, the range in annual earnings of male heads of families: TABLE 675.-Earnings per year of male heads of families, by general nativity and race. (STUDY OF HOUSEHOLDS.) [This table includes only male heads of selected families. For selection of families, see p. 272.] Native-born of foreign father, by race of father: English. 10 97 $521 27 3 8 28 84 1956 10 10 11 171 186 190 1 7 14 14 Scotch. 1 10 (a) (a) (a)|(a)| (a) | (a) 96 0.0 1.0 28.986. 6 97.9 99. O @88888 (a) (a) (a) (a) 1 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 11(a)(a) 30.0 035.590.3 93.5 96.8 11(a)(a)(a)| (a) (a) | (a) 192 1.614. 088. 696. 4 98.4 99.5 14 (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) (a) 23 3.2 6.5 32. 351.6 64. 5 74.2 49 .0 2.077. 693. 9100.0 100.0 a Not computed, owing to small number involved. As already seen, the yearly earnings of heads of families for whom information was secured in this locality average $399. The proportions of male heads of families earning under $200, under $400, and under $600 each year, respectively, are larger for the foreign-born than for the native-born negro of native father. On the other hand, the negro native-born of native father has larger proportions of individuals earning under $800 and under $1,000 per year, respectively, than have the foreign-born. |