S T A T I S T I C S

The Force of Work

Compiled by Arnold M. Kee

Participation in workforce
Percentage of black men in workforce
in 1972: 73
in 2000: 68

Percentage of black women in workforce 
in 1972: 47
in 2000: 62

Percentage of white women in workforce
in 1972: 41
in 2000: 59
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Percentage of families in which both parents work
in 1980: 32
in 1990: 36
in 1998: 46
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Unemployment rate for workers age 20 and older 
in 1970: 5.0
in 1980: 7.2
in 1990: 5.6
in 2000: 4.0
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Percentage employed in Internet-related industries
in 1992: .41        
in 1997: .49
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Economic Survey & U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 


Percentage employed in manufacturing
in 1950: 34
in 1960: 31
in 1970: 27
in 1980: 22
in 2000: 14
Source: U.S. Department of Labor

Minimum wage
              Actual Dollars    2000 Dollars: 
in 1938:         .25                3.05
in 1950:         .75                5.35
in 1970:         1.45              6.43
in 1980:         3.10              6.47
in 1990:         3.80              5.00
in 1997:         5.15              5.52* last time minimum wage was raised
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (based on a Federal Reserve CPI Index calculator 3.05 in 2000)

Date minimum wage bill was signed: June 25, 1938 (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau 

Average annual salary of …
janitor: $15,340
day care worker: $15,700
starbucks employee: $16,500
college professor: $46,630
police officer: $37,710
assembly line work at GM: $34,528
computer programmer: $47,500
lawyer: $78,170
radiologist: $260,000
CEO: $12,400,000
Source: U.S. Department of Labor; CEO attributed to Business Week Annual Executive Compensation Survey, 1999

Percentage of population who are millionaires
in 1975: .05
in 1997: 3.5
in 2005: 5.6
Source: Affluent Market Institute, 1997
2005 prediction: The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy (Longstreet Press, 1996)

First president of a public company to earn $1 million
In 1929, Eugene G. Grace of Bethlehem Steel pocketed a $1.6 million bonus on top of a $12,000 salary
Source: Business Week
(this link also provides more information on top wage earners through 1999) 

In 1999, the average CEO salary was 475 times the salary of the lowest paid workers
Source: AFL-CIO, Business Week  

Percentage of workforce who are members of unions
in 1983: 20.1
in 1998: 13.9
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Hours in an average work week
            non-agriculture  agriculture
in 1970:     38.3                40.0
in 1980:     38.1                41.6
in 1990:     39.2                41.2
in 1996:     39.2                41.5
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Percentage of workers who worked 41 hours or more per week 
in 1998: 31.6

*in constant 1998 dollars
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS, 2000

Number of employees telecommuting
in 1990: 4 million
in 1997: 11 million
Source: National Science Foundation 

Five fastest growing jobs
Database administrators, computer support specialists
Computer engineers
Systems analysts
Personal and home care aides
Home health aides
Source: Statistical Abstract of the U.S. and Monthly Labor Review 

Workers using computers on the job
in 1993: 45.8
in 1997: 49.8
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Median income of married couples
with wife in labor force 
in 1970: $47,707
in 1997: $60,669
without wife in labor force 
in 1970: $36,157
in 1997: $36,027
with female-headed household (no husband present)
in 1970: $19, 792
in 1997: $21,023
Source: Statistical Abstract of the U.S. (constant 1997 dollars)

Percentage of single mothers in workforce
in 1980: 52
in 1990: 55.2
in 1995: 57.5
in 1998: 72.5
Source: Statistical Abstract of the U.S. 

Aggregate personal savings (in billions) of U.S. population
in 1990: 221.3
in 1994: 176.8
in 1998: 27.7
Source: Statistical Abstract of the U.S.

Sources
Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Census Bureau
Statistical Abstract of the U.S.