The preceding table shows that information was secured for 12,392 persons employed in the shoe-manufacturing industry in the East. Of this number, 8,581 are males and 3,811 are females. Of the males, 43.4 per cent are of foreign birth; 37.8 per cent are native whites born of native father; 18.7 per cent are native-born of foreign father, and less than 1 per cent are native-born negroes, while of the females, 23.2 per cent are of foreign birth; 48.8 per cent are native-born of native father, white; 27.8 per cent are native-born of foreign father, and less than 1 per cent are native-born negroes. Of the total number of males for whom information was secured, the South Italian is the only foreign-born race showing as high as 5 per cent, while, of the total number of females, no foreign-born race shows as high as 5 per cent. Those native-born whose fathers were born in Ireland show a larger proportion of the total number of males, as well as the total number of females, than those whose fathers were born in any other specified country. : CHAPTER III. ECONOMIC STATUS. Principal occupation of immigrant employees before coming to the United StatesWeekly earnings-Relation between period of residence and earning ability— [Text Tables 95 to 101 and General Tables 56 to 61]. PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OF IMMIGRANT EMPLOYEES BEFORE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES. In order that an intelligent conception may be had of the economic status of immigrant employees in the East or North Atlantic States, it is necessary to set forth their industrial condition before emigrating from their native countries. Such an exhibit is also valuable in showing what training and experience foreign-born shoe-manufacturing employees had abroad in the same industry in which they are now employed; consequently, before entering into a discussion of their present economic status, the following table is submitted, which shows, by race of individual, the percentage of foreign-born male employees who were in each specified occupation before coming to the United States: TABLE 95.-Per cent of foreign-born male employees in each specified occupation before coming to the United States, by race. (STUDY OF EMPLOYEES.) [This table includes only races with 80 or more males reporting. The total, however, is for all foreign-born.] The preceding table shows that 40.1 per cent of the 2,362 foreignborn male employees who reported were engaged in shoe manufacturing before coming to the United States, 4.8 per cent were employed in other manufacturing, 31.5 per cent were farming or farm laborers, 3 per cent were general laborers, 7.2 per cent were in hand trades, 7.9 per cent were in trade, and 5.5 per cent were engaged in other occupations before coming to the United States. The South Italian employees show the greatest proportion who have had previous experience in shoe manufacturing, 68.7 per cent of those reporting having been thus engaged. The North Italians and English show the next largest proportion, somewhat less than 60 per cent having been employed in this industry abroad. The Russian Hebrew, Armenian, and French Canadian employees also show considerable proportions, while the Canadians other than French, Greek, Polish, Slovak, and Lithuanian employees show comparatively small proportions who have had any previous experience in their present occupation. The English employees show the highest percentage and the South Italians the lowest percentage who were engaged in other manufactures abroad. The Lithuanian, Polish, and Slovak employees show over 70 per cent who were engaged in farming or were farm laborers in Europe, which is far in excess of the proportions of employees of other races who were thus engaged, the English showing only 1.2 per cent in this group. The North Italians report the highest percentage who were general laborers and the Russian Hebrews and Canadians other than French no persons who were thus employed. The Armenians show the highest percentage who were engaged in hand trades and the Poles the lowest. The Greek and Russian Hebrew employees show large proportions who were in trade, and the Poles and Slovaks less than 1 per cent. The Canadians other than French show a considerably higher percentage who were engaged in occupations other than specified than employees of other races, and none of the Poles were thus engaged. WEEKLY EARNINGS. The series of tabulations next presented set forth the average weekly earnings and the range in amount of weekly earnings of employees of the shoe-manufacturing industry in the East. The first table submitted shows, by general nativity and race, the percentage of male employees 18 years of age or over earning each specified amount per week. TABLE 96.-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. |