A3645
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 9, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Fort Smith. Arkansas
A survey of migration into Fort Smith, Arkansas,- was conducted "by
the WPA Division of Research at the end of September 1941, The survey was
concerned with persons who moved to Fort Smith from places outside of Sebastian
County after October 1, 1940, and xirho were still living in Fort Smith at the
time of the survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered residential
*
districts, lower priced hotels, and trailer camps iriside the city limits. Higher
priced hotels were not surveyed and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who loft.Fort Smith during the survey period.
Industrial ActiVity
At the time of the migration survey, Fort Smith was enjoying the
greatest" activity it had soon for many years, duo mainly, to the beginning of
construction of new army facilities, Botwoen June 1940 and August 1941 Fort
Smith received $5,848,000 in defense contracts. In September, this sum was
increased by $15,500,000, allotted for the construction of an armored—division
camp . Some- of the local industries in Fort Smith have also expanded production
recently, mainly those engaged in glass, furniture, and. fabricated stool manu¬
facture.
During the 1950' s, Fort Smith suffered unusually high unemployment;
and before this recent defense activity, it was still severely depressed. In
October 1941, the city still had a small backlog of unemployed, estimated at
1,400 workers-, particularly concentrated among the unskilled, both male and female.
No general shortage of labor was evident in Fort Smith, but shortages were feared
in certain skilled categories.
A3645
-2-
This situation "brought a relatively large num"ber of migrant workers
to Tort Smith.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 1,500 families living in Port Smith at the time of the
survey had moved into Port Smith after October 1, 1940. These families contained
3,600 persons and 1,500 workers. Migrants made up a group equal to 9*9 percent
of the 1940 population of Port Smith.
Origins
Over two—fifths (4-2 percent) of the migrant workers were drawn to Port
Smith from other parts of Arkansas outside of Sebastian County. Oklahoma was
the second most important source, contributing 20 percent; Missouri was third
with 9 percent; and Texas fourth with 7 percent. Fort Smith migrants traveled
on the average of 130 miles; and only 11 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places, i.e., places of less than 2,500 population^ wore the'
source of almost one—third of the migrants; 2 percent had come from open country,
and 30 percent from rural village ,1 Towns (2,500 to 25,000) contributed 40 per¬
cent; small cities 13 percent; and 15 percent had come from citios of more than
100,000 population.
One-fifth of the families reported having lived in Port Smith boforc#:
Among former Port Smith residents, half had been absent for 3 yoars or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average ago of all migrant workers in Port Smith
was 32.3 years, substantially higher than in any other survey city covered to
date. Only one worker in about 12 was unuor 20 years of age, but one in 5 was
45 years of age and over. Heads of multiporson families reported about the
same average age as the unattached workers; these averages were 33.4 years and
33.7 years, respectively.
A2645
-3-
Women workers made up 12 percent of all workers in the Port Smith
migrant families. The average age of women workers was. 33,7 years, as against
33,7 years for men.
Race, Practically all of the migrants in Port Smith were white,
Negroes made up 1 percent of the migrants and white persons made up 99 percent.
Size of Family, Port Smith migrant families were relativel^r large,
averaging two and one-half persons per family. About one-third of the migrant
families contained only one person.
Size "of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 30
2 persons 28
3' end 4 persons 33
5 persons 9
Most of the migrant families were completo units when interviewed.
However, 10 percent of the multiporson families and more than two-fifths of
the one-person families had loft some family member "behind when they moved
to Port Smith, Before migration these families contained 4,200 persons. Of
these, 86 percent migrated to Port Smith and 14 percent had remained at the
places of origin.
Months Lived in County, Over a third of the migrant workers had
arrived in Port Smith immediately before the present survey, when construction
work on army facilities was getting under way. The distribution of the migrants
*
according to the time of arrival in Port Smith was as follows:
A3645
-4-
Month nf arrival
Porcont distribution
Total
100
October ISdO-^January *1941
Pebruary-Mnrch 1941
April—May 1S41
Juno 1941
July 1*941
August 1941
September 1941
13
7
10
6
12
13
39
Industry and Qccusatipa
Port Smith migrants woro drawn mainly from industries similar to
the ones which thpy entered in Port Smith, One—fifth of all migrants-, were
construction workers. The most important manufacturing industries contri¬
buting to Port Smiths' labor supply woro: lurabor, furniture, and lumber
products (4 percent), and stone, clay, and glass products (2 percent). Trade
was the former industrial background of 17 percent of the migrant workers
and 11 percent came from "other" service industries, A very small proportion
(8 percent) of'the workers hold no jobs at their last residence, and 11 percent
came from agriculture.
In Port Smi'th construction work absorbed 22 porcont of the migrants.
Lumber, furniture, and lunbor products suppliod employment to 5 percent, and
stone, clay and glass products c ployed 3 percent of the migrants. Trade
absorbed 18 percent of the workers and 9 percent entered "other" services.
More than a sixth of the workers, however, wore still seeking employment during
the calendar week preceding the survey.
A3645
- 5 -
At last In
Industry residence Fort Smith
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence j./
9
Unemployed in Port S \th
17
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
11
3
Mining •
3
2
Construction
25
22
Manuf acturing
13
Lumber, furniture and lumber products
4
5
Spone,clay and'glass products
2
3
Other
r
8
Transportation, communication and utilities
8
9
Trade
16
18
Personal services
4
4
Other services
11
9
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: students 6
percent; housewives 3 percent; and others less then one-half of one. perecsat.
The occupational distribution of the migrant workers before and
after migration was as follows:
At last In
Occupation residence Port Smith
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job
Unemployed in Port Smith
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers and officials
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
..Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service' workers
Other service workers
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
3oth "before and after migration, Fort Smith migrants were engaged
principally as skilled and semiskilled workers, and to a somewhat less degree,
as clerks. There were .few workers from "other" service industries, fend very
9
17
9
9
5
5
12
11
30
24
15
20
1
2
4
5*
10
2-
4
5
few non-farm laborers among the migrants. The principal occupational shift
A3645 _ 5 _
took place among farm,workers, who turned to skilled and semiskilled work
in Fort Smith.
Unemployment
A relatively high proportion (l? percent) of the migrant workers
were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week prior to interview.
In other survey cities the unemployment rates among migrants were: 3 percent in
Baltimore, Md.; 13 percent in Wichita, Kansas; 11 percent in Macon* Oa.;' and
16 percent in St. Louis, Missouri.
Unemployment by Sen. Proportionately more women migrant workers
were unemployed in Fort Smith than men. Almost one-fourth (24 percent) of
the women workers reported themselves unemployed and seeking work, while less
than one-sixth (15 percent) of the men were unemployed.
Unemployment "by Age. The youngest workers reported the highest
unemployment rate. Among migrant workers under 20 years of age, 31 percent
were unemployed. Of the age group 20 to 24 years, 12 percent; among those
aged 25-44 years, 14 percent; and among the workers 45 years of ago or over,
23 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by Size of Place of Origin. The unemployment rate for
workers from different sized localities showod littlo variation. Migrants
from small cities reported the lowest unemployment, rate (8 percent) as against
19 percent from farms, rura-l villagos, and the open country, and 12 percent
for large cities.
Size of 'plane of origin Percent unemployed in Ft. Smith
Total 17
Open country IS
Rural villages (less than-2,500) 19
Towns (2,500 to 25,000) 19
Small cities (25,000' to 100,000) 8
Large cities (over 100,000) 12
A3645
_ 7 -
Unemployment by Distagco Traveled, The..Variations ill unemployment
rates of workers who traveled various distances to Fort Smith were as followsi
Distrnco traveled Percent unemplsyod in Ft. Smith
Total 17
Loss than 200 Mies 13
200-499 miles 27
500-599 miles 14
1,000 milos and .over 22
Unemployment by Month of Entering. County. Workers who had arrived
in Fort Smith during.the month of the survey shstofed & higher unemployment
rate than those who had been in -the city .for longer periods.
Month of arrival Percent' 'unemployed in Ft. Smith
Total 17
October 1940-J anuary 1941 17
February-March'1941' " 17
April-May 1941 13
Jane 1941 8
July 1941 8'
August 1941 10
September 1941 '23
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Particularly high unem¬
ployment rates were reported by construction and personal service workers, and
by new entrants into the labor market and. those• uheiiiployed 'at last "residence.
Workers in "other" services (including professionqCL ahd-related services;
amusement, recreation,' and related services; business and repair services; and.
workers in finance, insiirance, and real estate) reported the''lowest' employment
rate.
A3545
- 8 -
Industry last residence'
Percent, uncmnloyod ip Hfe - Smith
Tot el
17
No job
22
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Mruuf acturing
Transportation, communication, end utilities
Trade
Personal services
Other services
12
4
28
10
10
13
38
5
4 Base too small for computation.
In terms of occupations, white collar groups, semiskilled workers,
end farm workers of all types reported below-average rates of unemployment in
Fort Smith. "Other" service workers (including protective service workers,
ana waiters, waitresses, beauty parlor workers, barbers, cooks, housekeepers,
hospital attendants, etc.,) and craftsmen and kindred'workers, reported
especially high unemployment rates. Domestic service workers and unskilled
non-farm workers reported average rates of unemployment.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Ft. Smith
Total
17
No job
22
Professional, proprietory, and clerical
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Personal service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
7
25
14
17
33
13
17
A3645
- 9 -
Housing
Almost two-thirds of the migrant families in Fort Smith secured
separate living quarters. Over four-fifths, of the multi'oerson families were
occupying a separate dwelling v n enumerated.
living arrangements Total
Total 100
Occupying a separate dwelling 61
Sharing a dwelling with others 29
In hotels 9
Trailers and tourist camps 1
*Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
Tiae rate of reoent migration into Ft. Smith is relatively high,
running almost four times higher than in Greenville, S. C.; ten times higher
than in Philadelphia,; and half as high as in Wichita, Kansas, one of the most
active defense loom towns in the country.
A large part of the movement of workers into Fort Smith was in
answer to the opening of the army's construction program, and many were
still not absorbed by the local labor market at the time of tho survey.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
1-person Multiperson
families families
100
100
10
84
60
15
29
*
1
1
A3788
FEDERAL WQiwlp AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
January 8, 1942
MEMORANDUM
B-ec'ent Migration into Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Nine Other .
Cities in Los Angeles County, California
A survey ox migration into-Los.Angeles, Long Beach, and nine Los
Angeles satellite cities 1/ was conducted by the WPA Division of Research
during October and November 1941, The survey was concerned with civilians
who moved to these cities from places outside of Los Angeles County after
October 1, 1940, and who were still living there in October and November 1941,
Operating, on a sample basis, the survey covered residential districts, rooming-
house districts, lower-priced hotels,-' and tourist and trailer camps within the
corporate limits of the survey cities. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed,
and no attempt was made to gather information about persons who left the cities
during the period covered by the survey.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 79,000 families living in Los Angeles, Long Beach,
and the nine Los Angeles satellite cities at the time of this survey had moved
to Los Angeles County after October 1, 1940. These families contained 157,300
persons, distributed as follows:
103,400 persons in Los Angeles
22., 000 persons in Long Beach
31,900 persons in the nine other cities
Migrants in the entire survey area made up a group equal to 7.8
percent' of the 1940 population of the area. In the city of Los Angeles,
migrants equaled 6.9 percent of 1940 population; in Long Beach, 13.4 percent;
and in the nine other cities, 8,9 percent.
Unlike all other cities covered in this survey, the Los Angeles
County cities reported^considerably fewer migrant workers than migrant families;
in the 79,000 migrant families ther£ were but 73,500 workers. Fifteen percent
of the families in Los.Angeles, 19 percent of those in Long Beach, and 10 percent
of those- in the nine other cities contained no workers, but had come to Los
Angeles Comity to join relatives, for the climate,, for medical care, etc.
The estimated number of .families and xvorkers in "'the 11 cities was as follows:
Cities '• Families - Workers
Los Angeles 52,100 48,200
Long Beach 10,300 9,000
Nine oilier cities 16,600 16,300
1/ These nine cities are Alhambra, Belvedere Township, Beverly Hills, Burbank,
Glendale, Huntington Parle, Inglewood, Santa Monica, and Southgate.
A3788
~ 2-
Qrigins
The principal origins of the migrants to the Los Angeles area were
the West Worth Central States, particularly, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri
The West South Central States were less important, although Texas sontributed
from 6 to 7 percent and Oklahoma 4 to 7 percent of the migrants. A relatively
small proportion of the migrants came from the State of California or from
other Pacific States. The following table shows the origins of the migrants
by census geographical regions:
State and region of origin Los Angeles Long Beach Wine other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
New England
1
1
1
Middle Atlantic
8
5
4
East Worth Central
15
7
12
West Worth Central
29
28
31
South Atlantic
3
2
1
last South Central
1
1
2
West South Central
14
15
15
Mountain
12
13
14
Pacific
17
2£
20
Washington
3
2
l
Oregon
1
3
2
California
13
23
17
The distance traveled by the migrants was exceptionally great. In
Los Angeles, half the migrants had traveled 1,270 miles or more; in Long Beach,
1,070 miles or more; and in the nine other cities 1,190 miles or more. Among
other recently surveyed cities, the average distance traveled by migrants
ranged from 60 miles in Brockton, Massachusetts, to 340 miles in Detroit.
Los Angeles migrants came principally from large cities; Long Beach
migrants from towns; and migrants in the nine satellite cities from rural places]
The size of the migrants' places of origin was as follows:
Size of origin Los Angeles Long Beach Wine other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total IOC 10© 100
I
Rural 18 26 31
Open country 32 5
Villages (less than 2,500) 15 24 26
Towns (2,500 to 25,000) 25 30 29
Small cities (25,000 to 100,000) 19 20 18
Large cities (over 100,000) 38 24 22
Some of the migrant families had previously lived in Los Angeles
County. In Los Angeles, these families constituted 20 percent of the total;
in Long Beach, 28 percent; and in the nine other cities, 15 percent. Half of
these families had been absent about 5 years in Los Angeles, 3 years in
Long Beach, and 4 years in the nine other cities.
A3788
- 3 -
Characteristics
Age. Migrant workers in the nine satellite cities were exceptionally
young, "but those in Los Angeles and Long Beach were no younger than migrants
in many other cities covered by. this survey. The following table shows the
average (median) age of migrant workers in Los Angeles County:
Type of worker Average age (years)
Los Angeles Long Beach Mine other'cit'ies
All workers
29.9
29.5
26.4
Male workers
29.9
29,7
26.3
female workers
29.7
28.2
27.1
1-person families
25.9
25.3
23.2
Heads of mul timer's on families
32.7
32.8
31.4
Sex. In Los Angeles, 25 percent of the migrant workers were females;
in Long Beach, 18 percent; and in the nine other cities, 17 percent.
Baee. Practically all Los Angeles County migrants were white. In.
Los Aigeles, 2 percent were' Negroes and 1 percent "other" races; in Long Beach
and the nine other cities 1 percent were Negroes and less than half of 1 percent
were of other races.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Los Aigeles County averaged
approximately 2.0 persons when interviewed. Among other recently surveyed,
cities, migrant family size ranged from 1.4 persons in Washington, D. C., to
2.6 persons in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A distribution of migrant families
by family size follows:
Size of family when interviewed Los Angeles Long Beach Nine other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
1 person
47
38
51
2 persons
24
31
25
3 and 4 persons
25
26
20
5 persons and over
4
5
4
A large number of these families were not complete when interviewed.
In Los Argoles, 38 percent of the 1-person families and 10 percent of the
multipcrson families had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they
migrated.. In Long Beach, corresponding figures we re 21 percent for 1-person
families and 14'percent for multiperson families; and in the nine other cities,
35 percent for 1-person families and 7 percent for multroerson families..
i i
Before migration, 'the families in the entire .survey area had'con¬
tained 195,000 persons; of these, 81 percent had migrated and 19 percent had
remained behind. In Los Angeles, 21 percent had been left behind; in Long
Beach, 12 percent; and in the nine other cities 20 percent.
Month of Arrival. In Los Angeles and Long Beach, half the mi grants
had arrived in Los Angeles County about 4 months before interview; in the nine
other cities half had been in the county approximately 5 months before interview.
A3788
- 4 -
Month of arrival
Total
October 1940-February 1941
March-April 1941
May-June 1941
July-August 1941
September 1941
October-November 1941
Industry and Occupation
Before Migration. No one industry predominated among Los
Angeles Comity migrant workers at their previous residences. Trade and "other"
service industries were among the largest contributors, but each accounted
for only about one-fifth of the migrants, or less. Manufacturing contributed
less than one—fifth of the migrants in all three sections of the survey area.
New workers and workers from agriculture were not particularly important, except
in the nine satellite cities, where they made up nearly one-third of all workers.
The following table shows the attachment of the migrants on
their last full-time jobs at their last residences:
Industry at last residence Los Angeles Long Beach Nine other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total 100
100
100
No job at last residence 12
12
IS
Student s 6
7
11
Housewives 4
2
2
Unemployed 1
2
Other 1
1
1
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 9
8
15
Mining 3
5
2
Construction 7
10
3
Manufacturing 17.
18
13
Transportation equipment 4
5
3
Other 13
13
15
Transportation, communication, and utilities 5
5
6
Trade 19
21
21
Personal service 6
5
3
Other soiurices 22
16
IS
In terms of occupations at their last residence, the migrants
in Los Angeles and Long Beach were principally clerks, craftsmen, and opera¬
tives; arid those in the nine other cities were, in about equal proportion,
clerks, operatives, farm workers, and new workers. The following table shows
the occupational distribution of the migrants at their least residence.
Los Angeles Long Beach Nine other cities
(Percent distribution)
100
100
100
21
18
24
10
12
15
18
20
20
20
26
21
14
12
12
17
12
8
A3788
Occupation at last residence
Total
No job at la.st residence
Professional and seraiprofessional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, encept farm
Do a inhales Lang Beach .ling otheg citae?
(Percent distribution)
100
100
100
12
12
16
10
8
5
6
7
7
21
16
16
15
14
13
17
21
17
3
3
2
4
7
4
9
8
15
3
4
5
In Los Angeles County. After arrival in Los Angeles County, manu¬
facturing, and particularly shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing, became by
far the most important single industry of the migrants. In the nine sa-tellite
cities, manufacturing absorbed three-fifths of all the migrant workers, and in
Los Angeles, where manufacturing was least important, it still occupied more
than one-third of the xjorkers. Trade and "other" service industries absorbed a
relatively largo proportion of migrants in Los Angeles.
The industrial distribution of the workers on thoir jobs when inter¬
viewed was as follows:
Industry when interviewed Los Angeles Long Eeach Nine other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Unemployed when interviewed
16
16
12
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing-
1
*
*
Mining
*
3
*
Construction
6
8
3
Manuf ac taring
J2Z
14
m
Transportation equipment
26
38
47
' Other
11
6
15
Transportation, communication, & utilities
4
2
3
Trade
15
13
11
Personal service
6
4
4
Other - services
15
10
7
* Less than 0.5 "oercent.
/•
Migration to Los Angeles entailed a sharp occupational shift into
operative work, which became the largest single occupation in all the cities.
Clerical and craftsmen1s occupations also absorbed a large proportion of the
migrants. Very few migrants held unskilled jobs in Los Angeles County.
The occupational distribution of the migrants when interviewed was
as folloiirs:
A3788
—6—
Occupation when interviewed
Total
Unemployed.
Professional and seniprofessional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsman and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Para owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
* Less then 0.5 percent.
■ Las iaealaa. Laa& aaacfc Ulaa nfagr siUee
(Percent distribution)
100
100
100
16
16
12
9
6
5
4
4
3
17
16
IS
14
16
18
26
27
35
4
2
2
5
7
4
*
*
*
5
6
4
Unemployment
. Unemployment among Los Angeles County migrants was extremely high.?
16 percent of the migrant workers in Los Angeles and Long Beach, and 12 per¬
cent in the nine other cities, were unemployed during the calendar week prior
to interview. In the entire survey area, an estimated 10,800 migrant workers,
or 15 percent, wore unemployed. In other recently surveyed cities, migrant
unemployment ranged from 2 percent in Bristol, Connecticut, to 17 porconi in
Port Smith, Arkansas.
Unemployment by Sox. Unemployment among female migrant vrorkors was
excessive in all sections of the survey area:
Porcent unemployed in:
Sox of workers I.,ns Angeles Lnng'Beanh jftp.o QthSr citL
Total 15 16 12
Male 12 12 .7
Pemale 30 35 35
Unemployment by Race. In the city of Los Angeles, the only pari of
the survey area where the number of. migrants interviewed was large enough to
permit race comparisons, Negroes reported-highest unemployment and migrants of
"other" rsncs reported least unemployment. Among white migrants, 16 percent
were unemployed^ among Negroes, 25 percent; and among "other" races, 9 percent.
Unemnlor/mcnt by Ago. Workers 45 years and over uniformly reported
above-average unemployment; and those under 20 years reported high unemploy¬
ment except in the city of Lcs Angeles:
Foment inonrolQ--cd in:
Age of workers Lns Angeles IiO.TLg Bs.acll Mag other nit id
Total 16 16 12
Under 20 ye ar s 8 *20 19
20-24 years 20 14 11
25-44 years 15 15 11
45 years and over 18 23 14
A3788
-7-
Unemployment "by Month of Arrival. Unemployment was largely concen¬
trated. among the migrants who had arrived in Los Angeles County during the
months just preceding the present survey:
Percent unemployed in:
Month of arrival Los Angeles Long Beach line otAS.7, citiftg.
Total 16 16 12
October 1940-April 1941 955
'May-June 1941 95 8
July-August 1941 10 22 9
September 1941 21 23 20
0 c tob er-Wovemb er 1941 40 40 54
TTnomnloyment by Industry and Occupation- Migrant workers from agri¬
culture, construction, and, in the nine satellite cities, workers from manufac¬
turing industries were most successful in finding work in Los Angeles County,
Workers from trade and "other" service industries,had, in general, about average
success in finding work. Workers from mining, new workers (except in Los Angeles)
and, in the nine satellite' cities, workers from personal service industries were
least successful. Unemployment rates by industry at last residence follow.
Percent unemployed in:
Industry at last residence
Los.
Angeles
Long Beach
Wins other
Total
16
16
12
Wo job
15
20
16
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
10
15
7
Mining
25
/
4
Construction
13
9
10
Manufacturing
15
16
8
Transportation, communication, & utilities
16
4
14
Trade
19
li
14
Personal services
16
4
29
Other services
18
14
10
4 Base too small for computation.
In terms of occupations, professional and proprietory workers, farm
workers, and non—farm laborers wore, in general, the most successful in finding
jobs in Los Angeles Counts'-. Clerical workers'wore, in general, the least suc¬
cessful among the migrants. Craftsmen reported unemployment only slightly
beloxir the average, but operatives were below average except in the-city, of
Los Angeles, Unemployment rates by the occupation of workers at their last
residence follow:
A3788
- 8 -
Occupation at last
residence
Percent unemployed in:
Total
——~—w ~
16
16
12
Ho job
15
20
16
Professional and semiprofessional
14
9
13
Proprietors, managers, and officials
9
7
9
Clerical and kindred workers
23
15
19
Craftsmen and kindred workers
13
17
10
Operatives and kindred workers
24
14
7
Domestic service workers
14
+
"f
Other service workers
15
15
14
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
7
15
8
Laborers, except farm
5
/
12
j- Bane too small for computation.
Housing
In Los Angeles and the nine satellite cities, the majority
of the
migrant families were found to be sharing a dwelling
unit with other
per sons
In Long Beach, however, the majority were occupying
separate living Quarters.
A small proportion of the families were
living in hotels and trailer
C-'.U ~S.
The follo^^^ing tables show the
living arrangements of the mi
grant
families according to family size:
1. All Familir
IS
Living arrangements
Los Angeles
Long Beach 11 in
c other cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling unit
43
53.
56
Sharing a dwelling with others
50
40
60
In hotels
6
5
2
In tourist and trailer camps
1
2
2
2. One—Person
Families
Living arrangements
Los Angeles
Long Beach Hin
c other citicj
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling unit
12
8
A
Sharing a dwelling with others
76
78
92
In hotels
12
12
r-»
In tourist and trailer camps
*
2
1
Less than 0.5 percent.
A3788
«r- 9 —
3. I-lultincrnaa Families
Living arrangements Los Angeles Long Boach i'Tino abhor cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling unit
72
80
70
Sharing a dwelling v/ith others
27
IS
25
In hotels
*
1
*
In tourist and trailer camps
1
3
5
*Lcss than 0.5 percent
Conclusions
In terms of the absolute number of migrants attracted during the
first year of the defense program, Los Angeles County cities exceed "03/ far
all other cities covered in this survey. An estimated 150,000-odd migrants
were found in the Los Angeles County survey area, and more than 100,000 in
the city of Los Angeles alone. The cities approaching nearest to this
volume were Washington, D. C. and San Diego, with slightly more than 50,000
migrants each; Seattle with approximately 40,000; and Baltimore, with about
30,000 migrants. When recent migration is related to 1940 population, the
position of Los Angeles is still impressive, though exceeded by many smaller
war--boom-cities such as San Diego, Wichita, Burlington (Iowa), and Seattle.
In comparison with other cities covered in this survey , the Los
Angeles County migrants have been notably unsuccessful. While unemployment
among migrants in other defense cities has usually ranged between 3 and S percent
and has seldom exceeded 10 percent, unemployment among migrants in Los Angeles
County ranged from 12 to IS percent and averaged 15 percent throughout the
survey area. During the first year of the defense program, Los Angeles was
one of the few cities which attracted migrant workers faster than they could
be absorbed.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3911
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 3, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Oakland. California, and Environs
A survey of migration into Oakland, California, and five neighbor¬
ing cities if was conducted by the WPA Division of Research during November
and December 1941. The survey was concerned with civilians who moved to
the cities from places outside of Alameda County after October 1, 1940, and
who were still living there at the time of the survey. Operating on a
sample basis, the survey covered residential districts, rooming-house dis¬
tricts, trailer camps, defense housing projects, and lower priced hotels
within the corporate limits of the survey cities. Higher priced hotels were
not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about persons
who left the cities during the period covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and October 1941 Alameda County received prime
defense contracts valued at approximately $125,000,000, allotted mainly for
the construction and expansion of shipyards, for shipbuilding, and for army
and navy air and supply banes. It is estimated by the California State
Employment Service that approximately 10,000 new jobs have been created in
the survey area since the beginning of the defense program.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 11,600 families, containing 11,500 workers and 29,700
persons, living in Oakland and the five neighboring cities at the time of
this survey had moved to Alameda county after October 1940. The migrants
made up a group equal to 6.6 percent of the 1940 population of the cities.
Origin
Nearly two-thirds of the migrants originated in the three Pacific
states. California was the principal source of migrants, contributing 58
percent. The average distance traveled by migrants was 350 miles, and 40
percent had traveled 500 miles ok more.
The following table shows the migrants' origins according to census
geographical regions.
1J These five cities are Alameda, Berkeley, Piedmont, San Leondro, and
Emeryville.
A3911
- 2 -
State and region of origin Percent distrioution
Total
100
New England
1
Middle Atlantic
2
East North Central
*4
West North Central
10
South Atlantic
1
East South Central
2
West South Central
8
Mountain
9
Pacific
63
Washington
3
Oregon
2
California.
58
Sural places were the origin of 17 percent of the migrants; i. e.
1 percent came from open country and 16 percent came from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 33 percent; small cities,
16 percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 34 percent.
Former residents of Alameda County made up 22 percent of the migrant
families. About half of these returning residents had "been absent for 4 years or
more.
Charact eristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 31.7 years.
The average age of one-person families was 27.9 years, and for heads of
multiperson families, 33.6 years. Workers under 20 years made up 6 percent
of the migrant workers and workers 45 years of age or over made up 15 percent.
Women workers comprised 16 percent of the migrant labor force. The
average age of female workers was 29.5 years, as compared with 32.0 years for
males.
Race. Three percent of the migrants were Negroes, and "other"
races contributed less than half of 1 percent.
Size of Family. Migrant families in the Oakland area were relatively
large, averaging 2.6 persons per family.
Average size of family in Oakland & Environs Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 31
2 persons • 25
3 and 4 persons 35
5 persons or more 9
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; only 10
percent of the 1-person families and 2 percent of the multi-person families had
left a spouse or dependent children at their last residences. The families con¬
tained 30,400 persons of whom 98 percent had migrated to Oakland and 2 percent
A3911
- 3 -
had stayed at the families' last residences.
Month of Arrival.
About half of the workers arrived in Oakland during September or
later.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-March 1941 14
April-May 1941 11
June-July 1941 15
August 1941 11
September 1941 17
October 1941 13
November-December 1941 19
Industry and Occupation
No one industry contributed a preponderant share of the workers
migrating to Oakland, but a sizable contribution was made by each of these
sources: construction, manufacturing, trade "other" services, and new
workers. Pew workers were drawn :frorn farming. In the Oakland area, manu¬
facturing, and particularly shipbuilding, was the principal employer of
migrant workers, with relatively large numbers also engaged in construction,
trade, and "other" services.
The following table shows the industries of the migrants on their
last full-time jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed
in Oakland,
Industry At last residence In Oakland
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence if
12
—
Unemployed in Oakland
-
7
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
7
*
Mining
2
♦
Construction
14
11
Manuf acturing
22
39
Transportation equipment
8
20
Other
14
19
Transportation, communication and. utilities
6
4
Trade
IS
17
Personal service
4
5
Other services
17
17
* Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: Students 8 percent;
housewives 2 percent; unemployed 2 percent; and others less than 0,5 percent.
A3911
- 4 -
In terms of occupations, skilled and semiskilled workers were
predominant. About two-fifth held skilled and semiskilled jobs before
migration, and about one-half in the Oakland area. There were relatively
few clerical vrorkers or laborers among the migrants.
Occupations at last residence and in Oakland follow:
Occurs, tions At last residence In Oakland
(Percent distribution
Total 100 100
Wo job at last residence
12
-
Unemployed in Oakland
-
7
Professional and semiprofessional
9
9
Proprietors, managers, and officials
7
6
Clerical and kindred workers
10
11
Craftsmen and kindred workers
22
24
Operatives and kindred workers
17
23
Domestic service workers
3
4
Other service workers
5
5
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
6
*
Laborers other than farm
9
11
* Less then 0.5 percent
Unemployment
Seven percent of the migrant workers, or an estimated 810 workers,
were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview.
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrant workers had three times as much unemploy¬
ment as men; 5 percent of the men and 15 percent of the women were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. There was little variation in unemployment
according to age. Unemployment rates by workers by age are given below:
Age of workers Percent unemployed
Total 7
Under 20 years 10
20-24 years 7
25-44- years 7
45 3-ears or more 7
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Most recently arrived workers
had the highest unemployment rates in the Oakland area.
A3911
5 -
Percent unemployed in Oakland.
7
Month of arrival
Total
October 1940-March 1941
April-May 1941
June-July 1941
August 1941
September 1941
October 1941
November-December 1941
* Less than 0.5 percent
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Personal service workers
and workers engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing at their last resi¬
dences had the- highest unemployment rates in Oakland. Workers in manufacturing,
construction, and transportation, showed well below average unemployment rates.
Rates by industry follow:
3
*
*
7
6
6
20
Industry at last residence
Total
Ho job
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manuf p.ctur ing
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Trade
Personal service
Other services
Percent unemployed in Oakland
7
12
i
4
3
1
7
14
7
■f Base too small for computation.
There were few unemployed semiskilled or skilled migrant workers
in the Oakland area. Farm workers, unskilled industrial laborers, and
clerks were the least successful in obtaining jobs. Unemployment rates by
occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Oakland
Total
7
Ho job
7
Professional and semiprofessional
5
Proprietors, managers and officials
4
Clerical and kindred workers
10
Craftsmen and kindred workers
5
Operatives and kindred workers
1
Domestic service workers
/
Other service workers
8
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
14
Laborers other than farm
13
■f Base too small for computation.
Aoill
- 6 -
Housing
The majority of the migrant families in the Oakland area were
occupying separate living quarters when interviewed. About one-third had
doubled up with other families, and a few lived in hotels and trailer camps.
IJ.vinarrangements Total 1-uerson families Multinerson xbrolU.es.
(Percent distribution)
Total 100
Occupying separate dwelling 57
Sharing a dwelling 36
In hotels 5
In tourist or trailer camps 2
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
100
100
13
77
71
21
16
*
*
2
In terms of its population, the Oakland area has recently attracted
a large volume of in-migration. Its migration rate, approximately equal to
the rates found in Bridgeport, Conn., and in Los Angeles, was exceeded by
less than one-third of the 51 cities included in this survey. In absolute
numbers too, the volume was large, running substantially higher than the
volume of migrants attracted to the city of Son Francisco.
Oakland migrants were more successful in finding jobs than migrants
to any other of the 6 survey areas on the West Coast.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3845b
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
January 17, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into San Diego. California and Environs
A survey of migration into San Diego, California, and its environs
was completed "by the WPA Division of Research in the early part of December
1941, The survev was concerned with civilians who moved to San Diego, Chula
Vista, Coronado, La Mesa, and National City from places outside of San Diego
County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living there when this survey
was conducted. Operating on a sample basis, the survev covered residential
districts, defense housing projects, tourist and trailer camps, and lower
priced hotels within the survev area. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed
and no attempt was made to gather information about persons who- left the city
during the survev period.
Industrial Activity
San Diego is probably the "hottest" war-boom citv in-America. Be¬
tween Juncl940 and October 1941, San Diego received defense contracts, prin¬
cipally for aircraft manufacturing, valued at $626,000,000, a sum thirteen
times greater than the 1937 product value of San Diego manufactures; no other
large American city shows so high a ratio ®f defense contracts to 1937 manu¬
factures. In October 1941, the'index of manufacturing employment in San Diego
stood at'449.6 (1937 average-* 100), the highest, bv far, among all large
American cities. Between October 1940 arid October 1941, manufacturing employ¬
ment in San Diego increased 85.7 percent, and was s.econd only to Wichita
among the 84 largest cities.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 29,900 families living within the. corporate limits tf
San Diego and the four neighboring cities at the time of this survey had moved
to these cities from places outside of San Diego County after October 1, 1940.
These families., contained 59,9.00 persons arid 29,900 workers. The migrants
were distributed within the survey area as follows;
Area Families Workers Persons
City of San Diego 27,700 27,900 54,500
Four - neighboring .cities 2,200 2,000 5,400
Migrants'in the city of San' Diego made up a group equal to 26.8
percent of the.city's 1940 population. In the four other cities, the Migrant
rate was 20.4 percent. In the entire survey area, the migrant rate was
26.1 percent.
Origins
California was the largest single source of San. Diego migrants, and
the three Pacific States contributed a greater number than anv other census
region. California was, however, the origin of onlv about one-quarter of the
migrants, and only 29 percent came from the Pacific'States.-- The West North
A3845b
-2-
Centrel States, particularly Missouri, Minnesota, and. Iowa, were the second
most important regional source. The West South Central States were the third
largest regional source, although Texas spd Oklahoma, contributing 10 and 7
percent respectively, ranked next to California. The following table shows
the origins of the migrants by census geographical regions:
State and region of origin Percent distribution
Total
100
New England
I
Middle Atlantic
3
East North Central
9
West North Central
23
South Atlantic
1
East South Central
2
West South Central
18
Mountain
15
Pacific
29
Washington
2
Oregon
1
Ca-lifornia
26
The distance traveled bv migrants was great, averaging 1,100
miles. Among other recently surveyed cities, the average distance traveled
bv migrants ranged from 60 miles in Brockt.on, Massachusetts, to 1,270
mile's: ijn Los Angeles.
Rural places were the origin o^ one-fourth of the migrant workers,
i.e., 4 percent came from open country and 21 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 - 25,000 population) were the origin of 28 percent of the migrant
workers, and small cities (25,000 to 100,000 ponulation). 17 percent. The
largest number, 30 percent, came from cities of 100,000 or over population.
Former residents of San Diego constituted a small minority of the.
migrants, 9 percent. Of these former residents about one.*hnlf had been absent
for 4 years or more.;
Characteristics
Sex and Age. The average age of migrant workers in San Diego was
27,2 years. For l-person families the pverage age was 23.6 years and for
heads of multi-person families 31.0 years. Ten percent of the workers were
under 20 years, and 10 percent were 45 years or over.
Women workers made up 12 percent of the migrant labor force in
San Diego. The average age of women workers was 28.7 years compared with
27.0 years for men.
Race. Migrants in San Diego were practicallv all white. Negroes
made up 1 percent and persons of "other" races less than one-half of one
•percent of the migrants.
Size of Family. Migrant families in San Die-go averaged 2.0 persons
per family. Nearlv half of the families, when interviewed, were 1-person
families.
A?845b
Size of family in San Diego
Total
1 person
2 persons
3 and 4 persons
5 persons or more
-3-
Fercent distribution
100
48
24
22
6
Many of th'ese families were not complete when interviewed; 40
percent of the 1-person families and 8 percent of the multi-person families
had left a spouse or dependent children at their former residences. Before
migration the families had contained 74,000 persons. Of these 81 percent
had migrated to the San Diego area and 19 percent had remained at the
migrants' previous residences.
Month of Arrival.
durinr or before July 1941,
Month of Arrival
Total
About half of the migrants arrived in San Diego
Percent distribution
100
October 1940-March 1941
April-May 1941
June-July 1941
August 1941
September 1941
October 1941
November-December 1941
25
8
16
10
16
11
14
Industry and Occupation
Before migration, no one industry predominated among San Diego
migrants. Workers from trade made up the largest single group, 21 percent,
and "other" services the next largest, 15 percent. Workers from agriculture
comprised 14 percent, of the workers and 13 percent were non-workers or
unemployed at their .last residence. Only 14 percent had been engaged in
manufacturing-. In San Diego, the majority of the migrants were employed in
aircraft manufacturing*.
The industrial distribution of the migrants on thoir last full-time
jobs before migration and on their jobs when interviewed in San Diego was as
follows;
Industry
Total
At last residence In San Diego
(Percent distribution)
No job at last residence 1/
Unemployed in San Diego
100
13
100
Agriculture forestry a.nd fishing
Mining
Construct ion
(continued on next
14
*
2
*
10
9
page)
A3845b
-4-
Industry (continued) At last residence In Sen Diego
(Percent distribution)
Manufacturing
14
58
Aircraft and parts
3
55
Other
11
3
Transportation, communication, and utilities
6
2
Trade
21
11
Personal service
5
3
Other services
15
8
* Less then 0.5 percent
l/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students 10
percent; housewives 2 percent; unemployed.1 percent; others less than
0.5 percent.
Skilled and semiskilled jobs, the principal attraction for .San
Diego migrants, occupied nearly two-thirds of the migrants when interviewed
but only about one-third of the workers at their last residences. There
were few migrants employed as laborers in San Diego. The occupations of
San Diego migrants at their last residences and in San Diego are presented
below:
Occunatian At last residence In San Diego
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
13
Unemployed in San Diego
-
9
Professional and semiprofessional
6
Proprietors, managers and officials
6
2
Clerical an." kindred workers
15
14
Craftsmen and kindred workers
16
22
Operatives and kindred workers
18
38
Domestic service workers
1
1
Other service workers
8
6
Farm owners, tenants and laborers
12
*
Laborers, except farm
5
4
♦Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of the 29,900 migrant workers an estimated 2,800 or 9 percent
were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week directly preceding
the survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Unemployment was more than four times greater
among women workers than among the men. Among the women 26 percent were
unemployed and among the men 6 percent.
A3845b
-5-
Unenroloyment by Age. The older workers, those 45 years or oyer,
were the least successful age group in San Diego. Those under' 20 yeatsr re¬
ported above average unemployment rates.
Age of worker Percent unemployed in San Diego
Total 9
Under 20 years 13
20-24 years 6
25-44 years 7
45 vears and oyer 17
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers arriving in San Diego
during the month the survev was conducted and the month preceding it reported
the highest rates of unemployment.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 9
October 1940-May 1941 3
June-July 1941 5
August 1941 3
September 1941 6
October 1941 14
November-December 1941 29
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. .Migrants from different
industries showed relatively minor differences in unemployment rates when
interviewed in San Diego. Unemployment r^tes by industry follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in San Diego
Total 9
No job 7
Agriculture, forestry, and' fishing 9
Mining 5
Construction' 7
Manufacturing 7
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
Trade 9
Personal services 9
Other services 18
Skilled and semiskilled workers were the most successful occupa¬
tional groups in obtaining; employment in San Diego, Half of the domestic
service workers and one-eighth of the "other" service workers were unemployed
and seeking work during the calendar week preceding this survev. Rates by
occupation were as follows:
A3845b
Occupation, at last residence
Total
No job
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
Percent unemployed in San Diego
9
7
7
8
10
3
8
51
15
9
9
Housing
The majority of the migrant families in San Diego were sharing a
dwelling unit with other persons when enumerated. About one-fourth wore
occupying separate living quarters; 6 percent wore living in hotels; and
8 percent lived in trailer camps.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiporson fomilios
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100 100
Occupying a separate dwelling
28
2
52
Sharing a dwelling with others
58
83
34
In hotels
6
9
4
In tourist and trailer camps
8
6
10
Conclusions
In terns of its population, San Diego has recently attracted far
more migrants then, any other war-industry city covered by this survey. Its
migrant rate is substantially higher than the rate (20.0 percent) found in
Wichita, Kansas, the second highest among the cities for which data arc now
available. It is more than double the rates for Seattle and Norfolk, more
than three times higher than the rate for Los -Angeles and Washington, D# c.,
about eight times higher than the rate for Baltimore, and 27 times higher th-an
the rate for Philadelphia,
Like several other more widely publicized war-industry cities (par¬
ticularly Los Angeles, Wichita, and Seattle) San Diego is attracting migrant
workers faster than they can be absorbed into its industries.
P3D2RAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3902
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 2, 19h2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into San Francisco, California
A survey of migration into San Francisco, California, was con¬
ducted by the WPA Division of Research in November and December I9hl» The
survey was concerned, with civilians who moved to San Francisco after Octo¬
ber 1, 19h0 and who were still living there when this survey was conducted.
Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts,
rooming house districts and lower priced hotels within the corporate limits
of the city. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed and no attempt was
made to gather information about persons who left the city during the sur¬
vey period.
Industrial Activity
By October 19hl San Francisco had received direct defense con¬
tracts valued at approximately $275,000,000, and equal to 83 percent of
the product value of San Francisco manufactures in 1937.' In October 19bl
the index of manufacturing employment in San Francisco was 155.5 (1937
average » 100), an increase of Li3.5 percent since October 19i|0. Only six
out of 81| of the largest American cities showed a greater increase during
the same period.
Number of Migrants
•»
An estimated 11,900 families, containing 12,200 workers and
26,700 persons, living within the corporate limits of San Francisco at the
time of this survey had moved to the city after October 1, I9I4O'.... Migrants
in the- city made up a group equal to Li., 2.. percent of. the 19ii0 population
of San Francisco.
Origins
California was the. principal source, of San Francisco migrants,
contributing 56'percentj and, the three Pacific States together contributed
63 percent. The West Central States, which contributed so large a propor¬
tion of Southern California migrants, were only a minor source df San Fran¬
cisco migrants. The following table shows.the. .origins of the migrants by
census geographic regions:
A3902
-2'
State and, region of origin Percent distribution
Total 100
New England. 1
Middle Atlantic 4
East North Central 5
West North Central 8
South Atlantic 2
East South Central 1
West South Central 4
Mountain 8
Pacific 83
Washington 5
Oregon 2
Calif ornia 56
Foreign countries and Alaska 4
The average distance traveled "by migrant workers was 330 miles,
and 42 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
The largest group of migrant workers (37 percent) came from
cities of 100,000 population or over. Only 2 percent* from open country,
hut 13 percent from rural villages. One third (33 percent) originated in
towns of 2,500 to 25,000 population, and 15 percent came from cities of
25,000 to 100,000 population.
Former San Francisco residents comprised 28 percent of the mi¬
grant families. About half of these returning San Francisco migrants had
been away from the city for 5 years or more.
Characteristies
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 32.3 years.
In one-person families the average age was 32.2 years and for neads of multi-
person families 34.0 years. Workers under 20 years comprised 6 percent,
and those 45 years or over, 17 percent of the workers.
Women workers comprised one-fourth of the migrant workers. The
average age of women workers was 28.1 years, as compared with 33.7 years
for men.
Race, Less than one-half of one percent of the migrant persons
wore Negroes or other non-whites.
Size of Family. The average size of migrant families was 2.2 per¬
sons. The tabulation below shows the size of San Francisco migrant families
when interviewed.
13902
- 3 -
Size of family in San Francisco Percent Distribution
Cotal 100
L person U5
2 persons 28
3 and h persons 21
3 persons or more 6
A few of the families were not complete when interviewed^ 13 per¬
cent of the one-person families and 8 percent of the multiperson families
Left a spouse or dependent children at their former residences. Before
migration the families contained 28,500 persons, 'of whom 9U percent migrated
to San Francisco and 6 percent had stayed at the migrants' last residences.
ftonth of Arrival
Over half of the migrants arrived in San-Francisco-during August
or later.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
ratal 100
October 19U0-March 19Ul 22
April-May 19Ul 9
June-July l9Ul 13
August I9I4I 9
September 19lil 10
October 19lil lh
November-December 19Ul 23
Industry and Occupation
Recent migration to San Francisco has consisted principally of
various types of service workers. Transportation, trade, personal service,
and "other" services contributed 58 percent of the migrants, and employed
an equal proportion in San Francisco. Manufacturing was relatively unim¬
portant, although a few workers had found jobs in the San Francisco, shipyards,
rhere were very few farm workers among the migrants.
The following table shows the industrial- distribution of the mi¬
grants on their last full-time jobs at last residence and'on their jobs in
San Francisco.
A3902
- h -
Industry At last rosidnece In San Francisco
(Percentdistribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
lh
Unemployed in San Francisco
-
10
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
5
Fining
l
■»
Construction
8
5
Manufacturing
lh
27
Transportation equipment
2
I?
Other
12
15
Transportation, communication and utilities
8
11
Trade-
21
20
Personal service
6
7
Other services
23
20
•stLess than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students 5
percent; housewives 5 percent; unemployed 3 percent; and others 1 percent.
Clerical, workers formed the largest single occuoational group among
San Francisco migrants, and all white-collar workers outnumbered the. skilled
and semiskilled workers combined. As usual, there were relatively few un¬
skilled workers among the migrants.
Occupation At last residence In San Francisco
(Percent dietrioution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
lh
_
Unemployed in San Francisco
-
10
Professional and semi-professional
8
7
Proprietors, managers, and officials
7
7
Clerical and kindred workers
22
23
Craftsmen and kindred workers
lh
16
Operatives and kindred workers
13
16
Domestic service workers
2
3
Other service workers
9
9
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
5
*
Laborers except farm
6
9
->Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
An estimated 1,220 migrant workers, or 10 percent of the total were
unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview.
A3902
-5r
Unemployment "by Sex. Unemployment among women workers was about
three times heavier than among the men; 20 percent of the women migrant
workers, "but only 7 percent of the men, were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age* The youngest workers were the most successful
in obtaining jobs in San Francisco, and the oldest workers were least success¬
ful. The tabulation below, gives unemployment rates .by~age -.grcupa.
Percont unemployed
Age of worker in San Francisco
Total 10
Under 20 years 4
20-24 years 6
25^44 years 11
45 years and more 14
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Unemployment was heaviest
among the most recently arrived workers, but was relatively high among all
the workers, regardless of their time of arrival.
Month of arrival Forcent unemployed in San Francisco
Total 10
October 1940-March 1941
7
April-May 1941
6
June-July 1941
8
August 1941
6
September 1941
11
October 1941
9
November-December 1941
18
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. '-Farm, fishing, and'
forestry workers, construction workers, and personal service workers were
least successful in finding jobs in San Francisco. New workers, and those.,
from manufacturing and transportation were most successful. Unemployment
by industry at last residence was as follows*
Industry at last' residence Percent unemployed in San Francisco
Total 10
No job 3
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 20
Mining• ( f
Construction 16
Manufacturing 7
Transportation, communication, and utilities 2
Trade 12
Personal service 15
Other services 10
■f Ease too small for computation.
A3903
-6-
San Francisco migrants reported little variation in unemployment
according to their occupations at their last residences. Clerical and
skilled workers reported only slightly below average unemployment, and
domestic and other service workers were only slightly above average. Unem¬
ployment by occupation was as follows:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in San Francisco
Total 10
No job 3
Professional and proprietory workers 11
Clerks and kindred workers 8
Craftsmen and kindred workers 9
Operatives and kindred workers 14
Domestic and other service workers 13
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 18
Laborers, other than, farm 10
Housing
The majority of the families were occupying a separate dwelling
unit wnen interviewed.- One-third of the families were sharing a dwelling
unit with other persons and one-tenth were living in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying
a separate dwelling unit56
24
83
Sharing a
dwelling 33
53
17
In hotels
11
23
*
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In terms of the absolute number of migrants attracted, San Francisco
stands high among the cities covered in this survey. The number of migrants
moving to Fan Francisco was surpassed only in Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle,
the Oakland area, Washington, D. C., Baltimore, and Detroit among the 51
cities surveyed. In relation to its resident population, however, San Fran¬
cisco has attracted relatively few migrants. Well over half of the 51 cities
surveyed showed a higher migrant rate than San Francisco.
Like migrants foi®td in the other large West Coast cities, migrants
in San Francisco had not been particularly successful in finding jobs. Mi¬
grants in a substantial majority of the cities surveyed showed less unemploy¬
ment than was reported in San Francisco.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3645 a
PEKERAI mm AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 5, 194-1
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Bridgeport. Connecticut
A surrey of migration ihi*o Bridgeport, Connecticut, was completed
by the t'/PA Division of Research during the early part of November 1941. The
survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Bridgeport -from places out¬
side of Pairfiled County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living in
Bridgeport at the time of this survey. Operating on a sma.ple basis, the survey
covered the residential districts, the one occupied, defense housing project,
\
and lower-priced hotels within the corporate limits of Bridgeport. Higher-
priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who had left Bridgeport.
Industrial Activity
Bridgeport is one of the Nation's more important defense centers.
Between June 1940 and September 1941, the Bridgeport industrial area received
defense contracts valued at $187,000,000, equal to about half the"1937 value
of manufactures in the area. Between September" 1940 and September 1941, menu-.
facturing employment in Bridgeport rose 47.3 percent, the seventh largest rate
of increase among 84 American cities.
With this activity, the supply of locally available unemployed in
the preferred categories was quickly exhausted. As a result, an extensive
training program was established to replenish, from local sources, the sum ly
of semiskilled workers; and a large group .of commuters were drawn from nearby
farms and villages into the Bridgeport labor market. In addition, migrant
workers in large numbers moved to Bridgeport for tho now jobs.
A3645a - g _
Number of Migrants
Approximately 5,100 families living in Bridgeport at the time of
the present survey had movod to the city oftor October 1, 1940. Those families
contained 9,900 persons of whom 6,000 wore workers. Migrants made up a group
equal to 6.7 percont of Bridgeport's 1940 population.
Origins
flio principal source of Bridgeport migrants v/as the State of Penn¬
sylvania, which contributed 36 percent of the total. Now York was second,
with 34 percent and Connecticut was third with only 6 percent. Massachusetts
contributed 5 percent and Maine 3 percent.. The average distance traveled was
115 miles, and 1 migrant in 20 had traveled 500 miles or more.
Sural places (places of less then 2,500 population) were the source
of 13 percent of the migrants; i.e., 3 percent came from open country end 10
percent from rurel villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed
32 percent; small cities, IS percent; and cities of over 100,000 population,
39 percent.
A relatively small proportion of the families (ll percent) had
formerly lived in Bridgeport. Half of these families had been absent from the
city for 9 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The evera-ge a.ge of all workers in the migrant f-allies
wa.s 27.0 years. In 1-person families, the average was 24.7 years; and for
heads of multiperson families, 31.3 years. Workers vnder 20 years made up 13
percent of ; 11 workers, and 9 percent were over 45 years.
Women workers made up 18 percent of all the migrant workers in
Bridgeport. The average age of women workers was 24.0 years, as compared with
27g5 years for males.
A3645 a - 3 -
Race. Negroes constitutod 1 percent of tho Bridgeport migrants.
Size of Family. The majority of the Bridgeport migrant families
contained only one person when interviewed at the time of this study;
.Size, of family in Bridgeport Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 59
2 persons 18
3 and 4 persons 18
5 persons and over 5
An unusually large proportion of these families were incomplete
when interviewed; 54 percent of the l-p^son families and 11 percent of the
muliperson families had left one or more family members behind when
they moved to Bridgeport. Before migration, families had contained 14-,900
persons. Of these, 66 percent had migrated and 34 percent had remained at
the migrants' planes of residence.
Month of arrival. A distribution of the migrant workers according
to the month of their arrival in Bridgeport was as follows:
Month of arrival Porccont of Bridgeport migrants
Total 100
October 1940-Pebruary 1941 20
March-April 1941 15
May-Juna 1941 23
July-August 1941 22
September 1941 14
October 1941 6
Industry and Occupation
Before migration only about one-fourth of the Bridgeport migrants
were engaged in manufacturing; but in Bridgeport, manufacturing engaged throe-
fourths of tho workers. New recruits for tho factories came from all industries
but especially from mining, trade, and, most of all, from workers who held no
A3645 a
jobs at their last residence. Agriculture was only a minor contributor.
The following table shows the industry of migrant workers on their
last ful.l-time jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in
Bridgeport.
At last In
Industry residence Bridge-port
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
21
—
Unemployed in Bridgeport
_
4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
4
*
Mining
9
-
Construction
9
4
Manuf ac turing
23
74
Iron and steel and their products
3
22
Nonferrous metsis
1
7
Machinery
4
20
Transportation equipment
1
9
Other
14
16
Transportation, communication
and utilities
3
2
Trade
15
9
Personal services
6
3
Other services
9
4
*Less than 0.5 percent
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was as follows!
students, 11 percent; housewives, 2 percent; unemployed, 7 percent; other,
1 percent.
The principal occupations for migrants in Bridgeport were skilled
and semi-skilled. Before migration, 40 percent of the workers had held skilled
and semiskilled jobs; after migration, the proportion increased to 58 percent.
Only a small proportion of the workers held unskilled jobs either before or
after migration to Bridgeport.
The occupations of Bridgeport migrants before and after migration
were as follows!
A3645a
At last In
Occupation residence Bridgeport
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
21
-
Unemployed in Bridgeport
-
4
Professional and semiprofessional
3
2
Proprietors, managers, and officials
3
2
Clerical and kindred workers
13
10
Craftsmen and kindred workers
13
17
Operatives and kindred workers
27
51
Domestic service workers
3
2
Other service workers
8
5
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
3
-
Laborers, except farm
6
7
Unemployment
Out of 6,000 migrant workers in Bridgeport, an estimated 220 workers,
or 4 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week prior to interview.
Comparable figures for other recently surveyed cities are: Baltimore, 3 percent;
Wichita, 13 percent; Philadelphia, 8 percent; and St. Louis, 16 percent.
Unemployment by Sox. Unemployment among female migrant workers
was five times greater than among males. Among the females, 10 percent, and
among the males, 2 percent, were unemployed in Bridgeport.
Unemploymentsby Age. No single age group showed high unemployment
in Bridgeport. Very young workers, however, reported an unemployment rate
slightly above average.
Percent unemployed
Age of worker in Bridgeport
Total 4
Under 20 years 6
20-24 years 3
25-44 years 3
45 years and over 4
A3645a
- 6 -
Unemployment "by Month of Arrival. Migrant vrorkors who had arrived
in Bridgeport during tho months just proccding tho prosont survoy roportod
the highest unemployment rate.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Bridgeport
Total 4
Gctober 1940-Pebruary 1941 3
March-June 1941 3
July-August 1941 3
September 1941 5
October 1941 H
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. In terms of industry at
last residence, no major differences appear in the unemployment rate of
migrants. Workers from agriculture and the personal service industries
showed unemployment slightly above average, however; and those from mining
and construction were well below average. Bates by industry at last residence
follow.
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Bridgeport
Total 4
No job at last residence 5
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6
Mining 1
Construction 1
Manufacturing 2
Transportation, communication, and utilities 4
Trade 5
Personal services 7
Other services 2
In terms of occupation at last residence, only 'the domestic ser¬
vice workers showed a high unemployment rate in Bridgeport. Yery little
unemployment was reported by skilled workers or non-farm laborers.. Unem¬
ployment rates by occupation follows
A3645a
- 7 -
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Bridgeport
Total 4
Ho job at last residence 5
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 4
Craftsmen and kindred workers 1
Operatives and kindred workers 3
Domestic service workers 14
Other service workers 3
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers 7
Laborers, except^ farm *
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
An exceptionally small proportion of the Bridgeport migrants were
occupying a separate dwelling when interviewed. Eve,n among the multiperson
families, a majority had doubled up with other persons.
1-porson Multipcrson
Living arrangements Total families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
22
4
48
Sharing a dwelling with others
70
82
52
In hotels
8
14
*
*Lcss than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In terms of its population, Bridgeport has recently attracted a
large number of migrants. Its migrant rate is approximately double the rates
reported for Baltimore and Indianapolis, nearly three times greater than the
rate for St. Louis, and nearly seven times greater than the rate for Philadelphia.
The number of migrants attracted to Bridgeport during the first 13 months of
A3645a
- 8 -
the National Defense Program is about three times greater than its net popu¬
lation grin during the 20-year period between 1920 and.1940. Judged by the
low unemployment rate of Bridgeport migrants, the movement has boon a notably
successful one for virtually all classes of migrant workers.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
A3815
FEDERAL WORMS AGENCY
Projects Administration
January.10, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into pristo1, Connecticut
A survey of migration into Bristol,. Connecticut, was conducted
by the WFA Division of Research during November 1941, The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Bristol from places outside of Hartford
County after October 1, 1940, and who were still diving there, at the time of
the survey, Operating cn a sample "basis\ the survey covered the residential
districts and lower priced hotels within Bristol's corporate limits. Higher
priced hotels tier® not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Bristol, like many other Connecticut cities, enjoyed greatly in¬
creased industrial.activity, during the first year of tho Defense Program,
According to local estimates, employment in Bristol's steel and bb'ass—products
factories increased 28 percent between October 1940 and the time of this survey.
Meanwhile, similar and often greater increases in employment were taking place
in most of the cities within commuting distance — in Hartford, How 'Britain,
Wat orbury, Hew Haven, etc. Under these conditions, Bristol's backlog of un¬
employed workers was quickly depleted, and numerous migrant workers were at¬
tracted to the Bristol factories from neighboring States,
Number of Migrants
An estimated .1,100 families :living in-Bristol at the time of this
survey had moved Mio - the city from places outside >6? Hartford County after
October 1, 1940, -These families contained 1,150 workers and a total of 1,300
persons. Migrants made up a group equal tp 6,3 percent,"of Bristol's 1940 -■
population.
Origins
The principal sources of Bristol migrants were Nov; York, which •
contributed 30 percent; Maine, which contributed.20 percent;:and Vermont,
which contributed 18 percent, Massachusetts was the origin of 9 percent;
6 percent came from Pennsylvania, and 6 percent from New Hampshire, The State
of Connecticut contributed only 3 percent of the migrants,' Tho average distance
traveled by the migrants was 145 miles, and only 5 .percent traveled 500 miles
or more.
Rural places wore the origin of more than one-third of the mi grouts;
i,e,, 1 percent came from the open country and 35 percent from rural villages,
Toiims (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 36 percent.; small cities, 10
percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 18 percent, .
A3815
Only 5 percent of tho families, an exceptionally snail proportion,
had over lived in Bristol "before thoir prosont novo. About half of these
fornor Bristol residents had been absent 10 years or noro.
Characteristics
Aae and Sex. Bristol migrant workers were unusually young, averaging
25.2 years. In 1-person families, the average was 23,8 years, and for heads of
multi-person families, 29.3 years. Sixteen percent of the workers were under
20 years, but only 6 pcrcont wero 45 years and over.
jpcv.alc workers made up 17 percent of all tho migrant worker-. The
avorago age,.f female workers was 23.4 years, as compared with 25.8 yearns for
males.
Negroes constituted loss than one-half of 1 percent of the Bristol
migrants,
oize cf ?anily. When interviewed in Bristol, migrant families were small,
•averaging 1.8 persons per family, Two—thirds cf the families contained only
one person.
Size of Banilv'in Bristol percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 66
2 persons 14
o and 4 persons 15
5 mersons and over 5
Aii unusually high proportion of thoso families, however, wore not
complete when interviewed; 77 percent of tho 1-person families and 13' pcrcont
of the multi-person families had loft a spouse or dopondont children behind,
when they moved to 3ristol. Before migration, tho families had contained 3,800
persons. Of those, exactly half had novod to Bristol and half had stayod at
the migrants* last residence.
i
Month of Arrival .About half of the migrants arrivod in Bristol during June
1941 or earlier, end a very small proportion arrived during the month in
which the survey vras conducted.
Month of Arrival
Total
October 1940-March 1941
April—May 1941
Juno—July 1941
August 1941
September 1941
October 1941
November 1941
Porcent distribution
100
25
20
25
9
8
10
3
A3815
- 3 -
Industry and. Occupation
3 of or o migration, only one-fifth of the Bristol migrants wore
engaged in manufacturing; hut in Bristol, manufacturing, occupied thrucrftwihss
of the'migrants. Bristol factory workers wore dram from all industries, hut-
particularly from among formers and now workers, who supplied more than one—
third of all workers. .
She following table shows the industry of migrant workers on their
last full-tine jobs at.their last residence and on their jobs, when interviewed
in Bristol.
Industry
At lost residence In Bristol
(percent distribution}'
Total
Ho job at last residence l/
Unemployed- in Bristol
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manuf acturing
Iron r:\cl steel
Machinery
Ucn-ferrous metal products
Other
Transportation, communication, and
utilities
Trade
Personal service
Other service's
100
18
16
3
11
20
2
2
1
15
4
13
"5"
10'
100
8
7£
14
47
6
8
1
7
4
2
l/ The status of. those workers at their, last., residence was as follows:
students', "9 percentj"unemployed,. 6 percent-; "hates©wives, 2 percent;' other's,
1 -percent.
Semiskilled jobs, the principal attraction for Bristol migrant
workers, occupied more than half of the workers when interviewed, but only
about one—quarter of the workers before migration. ..Skilled jobs were next
in importance, employing about one—sixth of -the migrant workers. Unlike many
other survey cities, Bristol attracted very ,fow white-collar workers.
The occupations of Bristol migrants before and after migration
are shown in the following table:
A3815
- 4 -
Occupation At last residence In Bristol
(Porcent distribv.tion)
Total
100
100
Ho job at last residence
18
Unemployed in Bristol
-
2
Professional and somiprofcssional
2
2
Proprietors, managers, and officials
2
1
Clerical end kindred workers
8
8
Craftsmen and kindred workers
11
17
Operatives and kindred workers
26
53
Domestic service workers
3
3
Other service workers
6
4
Farm owners, tenants, and Laborers
15
2
Laborers, except farm
9
8
Unemployment
Out of 1,150 migrant workers in Bristol, an estimatod 25 workers,
or 2 percent, were unemployed end seeking work during the calendar week
preceding interview, Bristol shows the lowest unemployment rate of any city
covered to date "by this survey,
Uiicnployment "by Sex. Among tho 25 unemployed workers, 20 wore
females, Ton percent of all female workers were unemployed, as compared with
1 percent for males. Most of the unenployod females wore operatives from
the apparel and leather industries.
Housing
About two-thirds of the Bristol migrants had doubled up with
other families; one-fourth occupied separate living quarters; and the balance
lived in hotels and trailer camps.
Living arrangements Total 1-porson families Kultj-pcrscn fa-.ilios
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling •
25
5
62
Sharing a dwelling with others
66
83
34
In hotels
7
11
-
In tourist and traxlor camps
2
1
4
A3815
•» 5
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Bristol, while obviously
large, is considerably less than that found in many other war-boon cities.
Out of 39 cities for which data are now available, 14 show a higher migrant
rate than Bristol. In one sense, it is true, this comparison is sonowhat
misleading. Bristol migrants, more than those in any other survey city,
tended to migrate without their families, thus reducing the number of
migrant persons for a given number of migrant workers, and in turn, the
migrant rate, which relates migrant persons to 1940 population.
FEDERAL WORKS ifiENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division a" Research
A3 776
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects'Administration
January 5> 19^2
MEMORANDUM
Recent.Migration into Washington, D. C.
A survey of'migration into Washington, D. C., was conducted, by the
VDPA Division of Re'search"'during November l^lpU The survey "was concerned with
civilians who moved to Washington after October 1, 19h0, and who-were still
living there in November I9I4I. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered
the residential districts, rooming houses, apartment houses, defense housing
projects, and lowe-priced hotels within the corporate limits of the District.
Higher^-priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made. to gather
information about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 36,300 families living in Washington, D. C., in November
I9I4.I had moved to the city after October 1, 191.0. These families contained
36,800 workers and a total of 61,700 persons. Migrants made up a group equal,
to 7.8-. percent of Washington's I9I4O population.
Origins
Washington migrants came in substantial numbers from all sections
of the Nation, and no one 'State predominated as the origin, of' the migrants.
Pennsylvania and New York Were the most important sources, but "contributed
only 12 and 13 percent respectively. Eight percent came from Virginia, 6
percent from Illinois, 6 percent from North Carolina, and- 6 percent from
Maryland. The average distance traveled by the migrants was 290 miles, but
33 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places vrere the origin of 15 percent of the migrants; i.e.,
I4 percent came from open country and 11 percent from rural villages. Towns
(2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 2k percent; small cities, 23 percent;
and cities of over 100,000 population, 38 percent.
Eleven percent of the families had formerly been Washington residents.
Half of these families had been absent from the city for four years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. _ The average age of Washington migrant workers was 26.1
years. In 1-person families the average, was 2lu6 years,- and.for heads of
multiperson families, 30.8 years;. Eleven percent of the workers were under
20 years, and 9 percent were I4.5 years or older.. •
Women workers made up h$ percent of all workers, an exceptionally
high proportion. The average age of women workers was 2iul years, as com¬
pared with 28.6 years for men.
A3 776
- 2 -
Race. Seven percent of the migrant workers were Negroes. Based
on 19b0 population, the migrant rate for non-white persons was 1,9 percent,
as compared with 10.1 percent for white persons.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Washington were unusually
small, averaging l.b persons per , ^aily, More than three-fourths of the
families consisted of only one person.
Size of family in Washington Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 78
2 persons 10
3 and b persons 10
5 persons and over 2
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; Lb per¬
cent of the 1-person families and 11 percent of the multiperson families had
left a spouse 'or dependent children behind when they moved to Vvashington.
Before migration, the fanilies had contained 6l,b00 persons. Of these, 8b
percent had migrated and 16 percent remained at the migrants' places of origin.
Month of Arrival. Half of the Washington migrants had arrived in
the city about 5 months or more prior to the present survey,
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19b0-March 19bl " 2b
April-May 19bl 12
June-July 19bl 22
August 19bl 9
September 19bl 13
October 19bl 13
November 19bl 1/ 7
1/ Does not represent the entire month.
Industry and Occupation
Before migration, the majority of Washington migrants were either
engaged in trade and "other" services, or held no jobs. Relatively few had
been engaged in agriculture or manufacturing. In Washington, the Government
service was of course the principal employer of migrant workers. It had
absorbed, however, slightly less than half the migrants; fo'r each migrant who
found a job in the Government service, there was a second migrant engage'd in
"other" services, trade, construction, and other Washington industries.
The industrial distribution of Washington migrants on their last
full-time jobs at last residence and on their jobs in Washington was as
follows:
- 3 -
At -last-
residence In" Washington
(Percent distribution)
100
18
U
1
7
10
5
15
5
5
9
21
100
A3 7 76
Industry
Total
No job at last residence 1/
Unemployed in Washington
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Pining
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Trade
Finance, insurance, and real estate
Personal services
Government
Other services
-x-Less than 0,5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 10
percent; unemployed, k percent: housewives, 1 percent; others, 3 percent.
Both before and after migration, Washington migrants were engaged
predominantly in white-collar occupations. There were few craftsmen or
operatives among the migrants, and the number of unskilled workers was excep¬
tionally small.
-x-
-7
3
3
10
1
5
U6
22
The occupations of Washington migrants before and after migration
were as follows:
At last
Industry residence In "Washington
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at -last residence
18
-
Unemployed in'Washington
-
3
Professional and semiprofessional
10
9
Proprietors, managers, -and officials
h
h
Clerical and kindred workers
hi
56
Craftsmen and kindred workers
11
10
Operatives and kindred, workers
5
6
Domestic service workers
2
3
Other service workers
h
7
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
■ 3
—•
Laborers, except farm
2
2
Unemployment
Out of 36,800 migrant workers in Washington, an estimated 1,100.,
or 3 percent, were unemployed and seeking work at the time of the present
survey. In other recently surveyed cities, migrant unemployment ranged
from 2 percent in Bristol, Connecticut to 1? percent in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
A3 776
"k-
Unemployment by Sex. Among female migrants, I* percent were unemployed,
as compare3~with 2 percent among males.'
Unemployment by Age, Migrant workers 1*5 years and over were least
successful in finding work in Washington.
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 3
Under 20 years
20-21* years 2
25—UU years 2
U5 years and over '-:W
xLess than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment by Race. Seven percent of the Negro migrant workers
were unemployed, as compared with 3 percent among white workers.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers who.had been in Washington
the shortest time reported the highest unemployment rates:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 3
October 19i*0-May I9I1I 2
June-September 19)[1 2
October 19hl 6
November 19i*l 6
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation
Unemployment was least~among migrants who had come from agricul¬
ture, transportation, and Government service. Highest rates were reported
by workers from manufacturing, trade, and personal services. New workers
reported less than average unemployment in Washington. Rates by industry
at last residence follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Washington
Total 3
No job 2
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing *
Mining +
Construction 2
Manufacturing 6
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 7
Personal services 8
Government *
Other services 1
■f Base too small for computation
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3 7 76
-5-
No occupational group reported high unemployment in Vifashington,
although skilled v/orkers showed a rate higher than average. Exceptionally
low rates were reported by professionals, operatives, and former farm workers.
Rates by occupation at last residence follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Washington
Total
3
No job
2
Professional and semiprofessional
1
Proprietors, managers, and officials
2
Clerical and kindred workers
h
Craftsmen and kindred workers
6
Operatives and kindred workers
*
Domestic and other service workers
2
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
J1'-
Laborers, except farm
+
+ Base too small for computation
Less than 0,5 percent
Housing
The great majority of Washington migrants had doubled up with
other persons, and only a small proportion occupied a separate dwelling unit
when enumerated.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
"(Percent distribution")
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
15
2
60
Sharing a dwelling with others
82
9k
39
In hotels
3
k
1
Conclusions
As the nerve center of the defense program, Washington attracted
an exceptionally large number of migrant workers between October 19U0 and
November l?ij, both in terms of absolute numbers and relative to its resi¬
dent. population. Among the five cities of over £00,000 population recently
covered in this survey, Washington shows the highest migrant rate, higher
than Los Angeles, twice as high as Baltimore, three tines higher than St.
Louis, and eight times higher than Philadelphia.
The movement to Washington differed in many respects from the move¬
ment to other defense centers. The proportion of female workers and one-
person families among the migrants was unusually large; migrants were drawn
from all parts of the country instead of from within a radius of 100 or 200
miles; and the migrants were preponderantly white-collar workers, rather than
craftsmen and operatives. The movement was also a notably successful one;
out of 35 cities covered to date in this survey, only one (Bristol, Connecticut)
reported a lower unemployment rate than Washington, D. C.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3827
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
January lit, 19U2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Atlanta,.Georgia
A survey of migration into Atlanta, Georgia, was completed by the
WPA Division of Research during.the. early part of November 19Ul. The survey
was concerned with civilians who moved to-Atlanta from places-outside of
Fulton and DeKalb Counties after October. 1, . 19h0, and who were still living
in Atlanta at the time of the survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey
covered the residential districts and lower-priced hotels within Atlanta's
corporate limits. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was
made to secure .information .about persons who left -the- city during, .the period
covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Atlanta was not an important defense-production center during the
first year of the defense program. Between June 19k0 and October 19^1, Fulton
and DeKalb Counties received direct defense contracts<valued at-about $26,000,
000, equal to only about one-eighth the 1937 product value of manufactures in
the two counties. Between October 19h0. and October 19U1, employment in At¬
lanta's manufacturing industries increased 15> .3 percent,. placing-Atlanta in
only 60th rank among .the 8U largest American.cities. 'According to=local
reports, the migration into Atlanta during the period covered by this survey
was accompanied by considerable out-migration, particularly among skilled
workers.
A3827
-2-
Number of Migrants
An estimated 4,100 families living in Atlanta in November 1941 had
moved to the citv after October 1, 1940. These families contained 4,450
workers and a total of 10,250 persons. Migrants made up a group eopial to 3.4
percent of Atlanta's 1940 population.
Origins
Georgia was the principal source of Atlanta migrants, contributing
62 percent of the total. Alabama, was second contributor, with 9 percent,
Florida third, with 7 percent, and Tennessee fourth with 4 percent. The aver¬
age distance traveled by the migrants was 90 miles, and only 12 percent had
traveled upwards of 500 miles.
Rural places were the origin of nearly one-third of the migrants;
i.e., 10 percent came from the open country end 20 percent from rural villages
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 36 percent; small cities, 15
percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 19 percent.
More than one-fourth (28 percent) of the migrant families i d former¬
ly lived in Atlanta, Half of these families had been absent about 4 years
before their return.
Char-cteristics
Age and Sex, The average age of migrant workers in Atlanta was 281
years. In 1-person families, the average age was 24.6 veers, end for heeds oi
multiperson families, 32.4 years. Twelve percent of the workers were under 2(
years, but only 9 percent were 45 years and over.
More than one-fourth (28 percent) of the migrant workers were fenw-M
The average age of the female workers was 24.0 years, as compared with 30.6
veers for males.
A3827
-3-
Race. Negroes made up 16 percent of the Atlanta riiigrants, The
migrant rate for non-white persons (based on 1940 population) was 1.5 per¬
cent, as compared with 4.4 percent for white persons.
Size of Family. When interviewed, Atlanta migrant families aver¬
aged 2,5 persons per family, and were relatively large in comparison with
migrant families in other cities. Two-fifths consisted of only one person.
Size of family in Atlanta Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 39
2 persons 20
3 and 4 persons 31
5 persons and over 10
Most of these families were complete when interviewed. However,
33 percent of the 1-person families and 11 -percent of the mul timers on
families had left a. spouse or dependent children behind when"migrating to
Atlanta. Before migration, the families had contained 11,700'persons. Of
these, 87 percent had migrated and 13 percent had remained behind.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants arrived in Atlanta
before July 1941.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-February 1941 19
March-April 1941 12
May-June 1941 18
July 1941 13
August 1941 13
September 17
October-November 1941 8
Industry and Occupation
The three most important sources of Atlanta migrants were new
workers and workers in manufacturing and trade, but each contributed no
more than one-sixth of the migrants. There was a substantial representation,
A382?
-4-
also, of farm workers and "other".service workers, and the number of per*
sonal .service workers was greater than usual. In-Atlanta, the proportion
engaged in both manufacturing (especially textile manufacturing)■ and trade
increased appreciably, and absorbed nearly half of the workers.
The following table shows the industries of the migrants on their
last full-time, jobs at their last residence, and on their jobs when inter¬
viewed in Atlanta.
At last In
Industry residence Atlanta
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence if 17
Unemployed in Atlanta - 14
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 14
Mining 1
Construction 6 8
Manufacturing 17 24
Textiles 9 14
Other 8 10
Transportation, communication, and utilities 6 10
Trade 17 23
Personal services 9 7
Other services 13- 14
if The status of these workers at last residence wnss Students, 9 percent;
housewives, 5 percent; unemployed, 2 percent; others, I percent,
"No one occupational group predominated among Atlanta migrants before
migration. Because of occupational shifts, however, the proportion engaged
in clerical and operative's jobs increased markedly after migration to Atlanta,
Relatively small proportions of migrant workers engaged in craftsmen's and
laborer's jobs in Atlanta*
The following table shows the occupational distribution of migrant
workers before and after migration.
A3827
-5-
At last In
Occupa 11 on Realdenoe Atlanta
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 17 ~
Unemployed in Atlanta - 14
Professional and semiprofessional 9 8
Proprietors, managers, and officials 6 4
Clerical and vindred workers 14 22
Craftsmen and kindred workers 11 13
Operatives and kindred workers 16 '23
Domestic service workers 7 4
Other service ivorkers 3 5
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 14
Laborers, except farm 3 7
Unemployment
Unemployment among Atlanta migrants was high. Ou.t of 4,450 workers,
an estimated 620 workers, or 14 percent, were- unemployed and seeking work
during the entire calendar week preceding interview. In other recently sur-
veved cities, migrant unemployment has ranged from .2 percent, to 17 percent.
Unemployment by Sex. Female migrant workers reported more than
four times the unemployment rate of male migrants. Among females, 32 percent
were unemployed, and among males, 7 percent. Two-thirds of the uiemployed
workers were females.
Unemployment by Race. Negroes reported about nine times the unem¬
ployment rate of white workers. Among Negroes, 43 percent were unemployed,
as compared with 5 percent for white migrants.
Unemployment by Age. Migrant workers under 25 vears of age reported
high unemployment rates, but older migrant workers were more successful.
Age of Worker Percent unemploved
Total 14
Under 20 years 26
20-24 vears 26
25-44 vears 7
45 vears and over 9
A3827
-6-.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Migrants who arrived in Atlanta
during the months just preceding the present survey showed the highest unea-
plorient rates;
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 14
October 1940-April 1941 7
■May-June 1941 10
July-August 1941 18
September 1941 22
October-November 1941 29
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. The most successful
*
Atlanta migrants were those engaged in construction, manufacturing, and trans¬
portation, Farm workers reported fib out average unemployment, and new workers
were well above average. Unemployment among personal service workers was
extremely high.- The following table- shows' unemployment rates by industry
at last residence.
-Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Atlanta
Total 14
No job . 17
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 15
Mining •/
Construction 4
Manufacturing 5
Transportation., communication, and utilities 4
Trade 10
Personal service 63
Other services 8
■/ Base too small for computation.
In terms of occupations, the white-collar workers, craftsmen,
and operatives showed least unemployment in Atlanta.. Non-farm laborers
reported a high unemployment rate, but the highest rate was among domestics.
Unemployment rates by occupation follow;
A3827
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed, in Atlanta
Total 14
Ho jot)
Professional and proprietory 3
Clerical and kindred workers 6
Craftsmen and kindred worvers 5
Operatives and kindred workers 5
Domestic and other service workers 57
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 15
Laborers, except farm 20
HOUSING
The majority of the Atlanta Migrants were sharing a dwelling with
other persons when interviewed, and considerably less than half occupied
separate living quarters.
1-person Multiperson
Living arrangements Tota1 families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
44
5
70
Sharing a dwelling with others
53
87
30
In hotels
3
8
*
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Atlanta has been moderately
large. Atlanta's migrant ra.te (based on 1940 population) is about equal to
the rate found in Baltimore, but Baltimore has manv times more defense con¬
tracts than Atlanta. In view of the high unemployment rate among Atlanta
migrants, it seems clear that migrants have recently been attracted to Atlanta
a great deal more rapidly than they could be absorbed into local industries.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3715
INDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 18, 19Ul
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Augusta, Georgia
A survey of migration into Augusta, Georgia, was completed by the
WPA Division of Research in the middle of October 19k1. The survey was con¬
cerned with persons who moved to Augusta from places outside of Richmond County
after October 1, 19h0 and who were still living there in October 19Ul- Operating
on a sample basic, the survey covered the residential districts and lower-priced
hotels within the city limits of Augusta. Higher-priced hotels were not sur¬
veyed and no attempt was made to gather information about persons who had left
the city during the year covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Between June 19U0 and August 19U1, Richmond County received direct
defense contracts valued at about $6,000,000, principally for the construction
of army facilities. Defense activity in or near Augusta has included the erec¬
tion of the Triangle Division camp, which employed 9,000 construction workers at
the time of this survey: work at the Augusta arsenal; and expansion of Daniel
Field, the municipal airport, for military use. During the past year, also,
indirect defense orders were responsible for a general increase in the activity
of Augusta's cotton textile mills.
This activity had attracted a large number of migrant workers to
Augusta.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,200 families, containing-2,U00 workers.and a total
A3 71$
- 2 -
of )4,600 persons, moved to Augusta from places outside of Richmond County after
October 1, 19U0, and were still living there in October 19Ul. The total number
of migrants was equal to 7.0 percent of the 19)40 population of the city.
Origins
The largest group of migrants, 1|2 percent, come from Georgia. South
Carolina was the second most important source of migrant workers, contributing
36 percent; North Carolina was third, with 6 percent, and Mississippi fourth
with 3 percent. The average distance traveled by migrant workers was 100
miles; and only a very few, U percent, had traveled $00 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of over one-third of the migrants; 9
percent came from open country and 2$ percent from rural villages. Towns
/
I
(2,$00 to 2$,000 population) were the origin of 31 percent; about one-fifth
(22 percent) came from small cities; and 13 percent came from cities of 100,000
population and over.
Previous residence in Augusta was reported by 18 percent of the
migrant families. Among these former residents, about one-half had been absent
for I4 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers was 30.1 years. The
average age of family heads was 33.1 and of the unattached, 28.7 years. Only
10 percent of the migrant workers were under 20 years of age, but 17 percent
were ii$ years of age or over.
Women workers constituted 17 percent of all workers in the migrant
labor force. The average age of women workers was 2)4.$ years as against 31.7
years for men.
Race. A relatively large proportion, 17 percent, of the migrants
A3715 - 3 -
were Negroes. (The proportion of Negroes migrating to oth?r Southern survey
cities ranged from 20 percent in Macon, Jeorgia, to 1 percent in Fort Smith,
Arkansas.) However, since close to half of Augusta's population consists of
Negroes, the migrant rate for Negroes was much lower- than that for
white persons.
Size of Family. Almost half of the families, when interviewed in
Augusta, were composed Of one person.
Size of family in Augusta Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 1*5
2 persons 26
3 and 1* persons 21
5 persons end over 8
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; 23 percent
of the 1-person families and 15 percent of the multiperson families had left a
family member behind when they moved to Augusta. Before migration these families
contained 6,600 persons, of whom 29 percent stayed behind and 71 percent mi grated
to Augusta. In the recently surveyed cities only the migrant families in Bridge¬
port, Conn., had left so high a percentage of family members at their former
residences.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants had come to Augusta
within 2 months of the time of the migration survey. The distribution of the
migrants by the date of their arrival follows:
Month" of arrival Percent distribution
Total. 100
October 19l*0-February 191*1 9
March-April 191*1 9
May-June 191*1 9
July 191*1 11
August 191*1 i )|
September 191*1 36
October 191*1 1/ 12
1/ The- survey was conducted during October; hence this figure does not repre¬
sent the total in-migration during the month.
A3715
- U -
Industry and Occupation
Both before and after migration Augusta migrants were predominantly
engaged in construction. Manufacturing contributed only 11 percent of the
migrants. Another 11 percent were former agricultural workers. The most
significant industrial shift in the movement of workers to Augusta involved
former agricultural workers and those who had no jobs at their former resi¬
dence. Agricultural workers and formerly unemployed workers were employed
largely in construction work at Augusta, and former students were principally
engaged in trade.
A distribution of migrants by the industry of their last job at
their former residences and the industry in which they were employed in
Augusta follows:
Industry At last residence In Augusta
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/
13
-
Unemployed in Augusta
-
6
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
11
*
Mining
-a-
Construction
h0
U7
Manufacturing
11
iu
Textile mill products
7
Other
5
7
Transportation, communication, and utilities
5
5
Trade
8
9
Personal services
U
5
Other services
8
lU
* Less than 0.5 percent
l/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 5 percent:
housewives, 3 percent; unemployed, 3 percent; and others 2 percent.
Augusta migrants were to a large extent craftsmen at their
last residence. Clerical and kindred workers, and farm workers of all types
each accounted for 11 percent of the migrants at their former residence.
Semiskilled workers were relatively few. In Augusta the ranks of skilled
workers were augmented largely by former farm workers and operatives.
A3 715
-5-
Occupation At last, residence In Augusta-.
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 13
Unemployed in Augusta °
Professional and semiprofessional 5 6
Proprietors, managers, and officials 5 i
Clerical and kindred, workers 11 13
Craftsmen and kindred workers 3h 4l
Operatives and kindred workers 12 15
Domestic service workers 2 3
Other service workers 1' 3
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 11. *
Laborers, except farm' 6 8
* Less thai 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Of the 2,U00 migrant workers in Augusta, about 150, or 6 percent,
were unemployed and seeking work at the time of the migration survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Unemployment among women was about seven times higher
than among men. Among women migrant workers 22 percent were unemployed, but
only 3 percent of the male migrants were unemployed.
Unemployment by Race. Negroes reported twice the unemployment rate
of white workers. Among the Negro workers 10 percent were unemployed, as com¬
pared with 5 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Age. The highest unemployment rate was reported
by workers under 20- years of age. The unemployment rates of workers by age
was as follows:
Age of workers Percent unemployed
Total 6
Under 20 years 13
20-2U years 3
2%-kk years £
U5 years and over 8
A3715
-6-
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. The heaviest unemployment was re¬
ported by the migrants who. arrived in Augusta between March and May.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 6
October 19liO-February I9I4.I
March-April I9I4I
May-June 19l|l
July-August. I9J4I
September 19l|l
October 19)4!
5
10
5.
3
8
7
Unemployment by Size of Place of Origin. Unemployment rates were
consistently lower for workers from larger communities. Those from the open
country reported almost twice the average unemployment rate.
Size of place of origin
Total
Open country
Rural villages (less than 2,500)
Towns (2,500 to 25,000)
Small cities (25,000 to 100,000)
Large cities (over 100,000)
Percent unemployed
6
• 10
6
7
3
n
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Practically all construc¬
tion workers found employment in Augusta. About 1 in 7 of those who had no
job at their last place of residence were unemployed in Augusta at the time of
the survey, and above-average rates were reported by workers from manufacturing
1
and trade. Rates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence
Total
No job
Percent unemployed in Augusta
6
111
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6
Mining /
Construction 1
Manufacturing 11
Transportation, communication, and utilities /
Trade 11
Personal service 12
Other services 6
/ Base too small for computation.
A3 715
-7-
Skilled workmen and white collar workers had the lowest unemploy¬
ment rates in Augusta. There were comparatively large numbers of unemployed
migrant semiskilled workmen.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Augusta
Total 6
No job lU
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 3
Craftsmen and kindred workers *•
Operatives and kindred workers 15
Personal service workers /
Other service workers /
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers U
Laborers, except farm 7
/ Ease too small for computation
x less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
A relatively large number of families were sharing a dwelling
unit with other persons. The distribution of families according to their
living arrangements follows.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
Total 100 100 100
Occupying a separate dwelling 35 2 ol
Sharing a dwelling with others 6k 95 39
In hotels 13
Conclusions
Recent migration into Augusta has been heavy. In terms of its popu¬
lation, Augusta has attracted about the same volume of migration as Bridgeport,
Conn,, and Macon, Ga., two other small cities in which defense activity has
been particularly great. Unlike the other two cities, however, a very large
part of Augusta's migrants consisted of construction workers who were not
A37l£
-3-
expected to remain in the city after the completion of the new army facilities,
fh« rest of the migrants, (i.e., the non-construction'workers) had not been
particularly successful in finding work in Augusta.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administrsndon
Division of Research
A3605
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
November 26, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Macon. Georgia
A survey of migration into Macon, Georgia, was conducted "by
tiie WPA Division of Research at the end of September 1941. The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Macon from places outside of Bibb
County after October 1, 1940^ and who were still living in Macon in September
1941. Operating on a sample basis, -the survey covered residential districts
and lower-priced hotels. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no
attempt was made to gather information about persons who left Macon during
the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Macon is a center of large-scale military activity. In or near
Macon are Camp Wheeler, built to house 12,400 soldiers; a fifteen million
dollar air corps supply depot; Cochran Air Field; and a small ordinance
plant for manufacturing fuses. Early in 1941 as many as 12,000 construction
workers had been employed in building these facilities. At the time of the
present survey, however, the bulk of the work was completed, and the greater
part of the construction workers had gone to other defense centers, leaving
behind only enough workers for clean-up jobs at Camp Wheeler and for tho.
defense housing projects and numerous private homes still under construction.
Macon's trade and service industries had benefitted from tho new
activity, not only during the construction phase, but afterward as well, when
the now army facilities wore put into service. In addition, most of Macou1 f
cotton mills changed from two- to three-shift operation during tho year pre¬
ceding the present survey, and had added a large number of operatives to
13605
-2-
thoir payrolls,
This activity had "brought a rolvbivoly largo numhor of migrant
workers to Macon,
Humber of Migrants
.Approximately 1,800 families living inside the corporate limits
of Macon in September 1941 had moved to the city after October 1, 1940,
These families contained 2,050 workers and 4,050 persons. Migrants made
up a group equal to 7,0 percent of the 1940 population of Macon,
Origins
The majority of the migrants came from nearby Georgia farms,
villages, and sme.ll to\ms, Georgia supplied 77 percent of all the migrarts,
and the next largest contributors were Florida, with 6 percent, and .Alabama,
with 4 percent. The average distance traveled by the migrants was only 70
miles, and only 1 in 16 had traveled more than 500 miles.
Rural places were a. particularly important source of -Macen mi~
grants; 15 percent had migrated from the open country and 30 percent from
rural villages (places of less than 2,500 population). Towns (2,500 to
25,000 population) contributed 32 percent; small cities, 8 percent; and
cities of over 100,000 population, 15 percent.
The great majority of the migrants had not lived in Macon before;
83 percent reported no previous Macon residence. Among the 17 percent who
formerly lived in Macon, half had been absent for about 7 years,
Charact erlsties
Age and Sex„ The average age of all \rorkers in the migrant
families was 28,1 years. In 1—person families, the average was 24,5 years;
and for heads of multiperson families, 31,3 years, Workers under 20 years
A3605
—3—
made up 12 percent of the total, and thoso over 45 made up 12 percent.
Since Macon is a cotton-mill town many of the migrants were women; women
constituted 28 percent of all the workers. The average age of women workers
was 23,8 years, as compared with 29,8 years for males.
Race, Negroes constituted 20 percent of the Macon migrants,
Negroes make up close to half the resident population of Macon, however; hence,
the migrant rate for Negroes was lower than for white persons.
Size of Family, Migrant families in Macon were relatively large;
less than two-fifths consisted of one person;
Size of family in Macon Percent distribution
Total
100
1 person
38
2 persons
26
3 and 4 persons
29
5 persons or more
7
A large number of these families were not complete when inter¬
viewed; 50 percent of the 1-person families and 10 percent of the multi-
person families had left a spouse or dependent children "behind when they
moved to Macon, Before migration, the families contained 5,150 persons.
Of these, 4,050 had migrated to Macon and 1,100 had remained at the mi¬
grants1 place of origin.
Months lived in County. The distribution of the migrant workers
according to the month of their arrival in Macon was as follows;
Month of arrival Percent of Macon migrants
Total 100
October 1940-January 1941 20
Pebruary-March 1941 15
.April-May 1941 13
Juno-July 1941 27
August 1941 15
September 1941 10
12605
-4-
Industry and Occupation
Macon drew heavily upon farm workers and now entrants to the
labor market for its migrants; 17percent of the workers had been in
agriculture at last residence and 13 percent were new workers, A large
part of these shifted into construction and manufacturing—especially tex—
tile manufacturing—upon arrival iii Macon. Both before and after migration,
the trade and "other" service industries occupied about ono-fourth of the
migrants.
The industrial distribution of Macon migrants on their last full-
time job at their last place of residonce, and on thoir jobs when interviewed
in Macon, was as follows:
At last
Industry residence In Macon
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Mo job at last residence \J
16
Unemployed in Macon
-
11
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
17
1
Mining
1
—
Construction
19
24
Manuf ac turing
13
23
Textiles
4
11
Other
9
12
Transportation, communication, and utilities
3
7
Trade
14
16
Personal services
6
6
Other services
11
12
l/ The status of these workers at last residence was: Students, 6
percent; housewives, 6 percent; unemployed, 3 percent; too young
to work, 1 percent.
The occupational distribution of the workers at last residence
and in Macon was as follows:
A3505
-5-
At last
rosid.6n.es In Macon
(Porccnt distribution)
Total 100 100
Ho jot) at last residence
Unemployed, in Macon
Professional and Semiprofossional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
* Less than 0.5 percent
Three important occupational shifts were involved in the recent
migration to Macon. Persons who were students at last residence tended to
shift into clerical jobs in Macon; housewives became machine operatives;
and farm workers turned to operative jobs and unskilled labor.
Unemployment
Out of 2,050 migrant workers in Macon, 220, or 11 percent, were
unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview.
Comparable figures for other recently surveyed cities are: Baltimore, 3
percent, Greenville, S.C., 9 percent; Wichita, Kansas, 13 percent; and
Philadelphia, 8 percent.
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrants reported about four times
the unemployment rate of men. Among the women, 23 percent were unemployed,
as compared with 6 percent for the men.
Unemployment by Race. Hegro workers reported nearly three times
the unemployment rate of white workers. Among the Hegroes, 22 percent
were unomployed; among the white workers, 8 percent.
5
4
6
6
11
15
17
22
12
21
3
2
6
8
17
*
7
11
A3605
-6-
Unemployment "by Ago. Tho highest unemployment rates wore reported
"by the very young workers and by workers over 45 years. Rates by age were
as follows:
Age of workers Percent unemployed in Macon
Total 11
Under 20 years 17
20-24 years 9
25-44 years 9
45 years and over 14
Unemployment by Distance Traveled. The unemployment rate of
Macon migrants was highest for those who had traveled considerable distances:
Distance traveled Percent unemployed in Macon
Total 11
Less than 200 miles 10
200-499 miles 9
500 miles and over 21
Unemployment by Size of Place of Origin. The highest unemploy¬
ment rate was reported by migrants from small towns, and the lowest by
migrants from large cities. Unemployment among workers from rural places
was about average.
Size of place of origin Percent unemployed in Macon
Total 11
Rural (less than 2,500 population) 12
2,500 to 10,000 population 15
10,000 to 25,000 population 7
25,000 to 100,000 population 4
Over 100,000 population 4
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers who had arrived in
Macon during the months just preceding the survey showed a higher unemploy¬
ment rate than those who had been in the city longest.
A3605>
- 7 -
Month of arrival
Total
October I9L1O-January 19lil
February-May 19iil
June-July 19Ul
August 19hl
September 19Ul
Percent unemployed in Macon
11
9
8
6
21
18
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Particularly high
unemployment rates were reported by housewives and by workers who were in
personal service industries at their last residence; and construction workers
and workers from "other" service industries showed the lowest unemployment.
Workers in agriculture and manufacturing at last residence had about average
unemployment.
Unemployment by industry at last residence was as follows:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Macon
Total 11
No job
Students
Housewives
Other
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manuf acturing
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Trade
Personal services
Other services
Ik
10
17
17
10
/
6
12
/
10
30
h
/ Base too small for calculation
In terms of occupation at last residence, the professional,
proprietory, and clerical workers and the craftsmen showed characteristically
little unemployment, operatives were about average, and personal service
workers extremely high.
Unemployment by occupation at last residence was as follows:
A360£
- 8 -
Occupation at last residence Percent Unemployed in Macon
Total 11
No job Ill-
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 5
Craftsmen and kindred workers 6
Operatives and kindred workers 9
Personal service workers 5>0
Other service workers 20
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 8
Laborers, except farm lU
Housing
Nearly half of the Macon migrants were occupying a separate
dwelling when enumerated and about half were sharing a dwelling vfith other
persons. Only a very few were in lower-priced hotels.
1-person Multiperson
Living arrangements Total families families
(Percent distribution)-
Total 100 100 100
Occupying a separate dwelling U6 5 72
Sharing a dwelling with others 52 89 28
In hotels 26
Conclusions
The rate of recent migration into Macon is relatively high,
running twice that of Baltimore and Greenville, S.C., seven times higher
than Philadelphia, and one-third as high as Wichita, Kansas, one of the
most active defense boom towns in the country. The number of civilian mi¬
grants attracted to Macon during the first year of the defense program was
roughly equal to its net population gain during the entire decade of the 1930's.
One part of this movement consists of "boomers" who follow
temporary defense construction jobs. A large number of these workers had
A3605
_ o .
already left Macon before the present survey, and most of the remainder
were expected to follow as soon as their work ended. The greater part of
the movement, however, was made up of migrants of a less temporary sort—
manufacturing operatives, tradespeople, and workers in various kinds of
service industries.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
A2703
MEMORANDUM
June 7, 1941
Subject: Recent Migration into Oliiqago. Illinois
Method
A survey of migration into Chicago, Illinois, was conducted
by the UFA Division of Research during the first week of May 1941. The
survey was concerned with persons who moved to Chicago from places out¬
side Cook County between October 1, 1940 and May 1, 1941. The city of
Chicago as a whole was covered with two independent samples, whose re¬
sults were in close agreement. Special surveys were made in rooming house
districts, in low-priced hotels and in tourist camps. Migrants in higher-
priced hotels were not included in the survey. Ho attempt was made to
gather information on families migrating away from Chicago during the 7-
month period covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
The city of Chicago had not benefited from the National Defense
Program to any exceptional degree at the time the migration survey was con¬
ducted. Although Chicago's industries reported generally increased indus¬
trial activity between October 1940 end May 1941, a substantial part of
the local labor forco was still unemployed in May. Late in the spring of
1940, local estimates put the total number of unemployed workers in Cook
County at 300,000.
Chicago could therefore afford few job opportunities to workers
from outside the city during the 7-month survey period. The survey of re¬
cent migration into Chicago thus provides one bit of evidence for testing
the belief that great numbers of workers are migrating into American indus¬
trial centers without realistically appraising their chances for finding jobs.
A2703
- 2 ~
Number of Migrants
Approximately 11,300 families living in Chicago during the first
week of May 1941 had moved to Cook County after October 1, 1540. These
families contained approximately 22,800 persons. Migrants thus made up a
group equal to 0.7 percent of Chicago's 1940 population.
White persons predominated among the migrants, accounting for
90 percent of all migrants. Negroes made up 9 percent of the migrants, and
other races, principally Mexicans, contributed 1 pere--.it.
Unemployment
The rate of unemployment among workers who had recently migrated
to Chicago was high. Out of approximately 12,100 workers in the migrant
families, 80 percent were working and 20 percent were unemployed and seek¬
ing work.
Turnover
The Chicago migration survey provides certain indirect evidence
on the extent to which unemployed workers are constantly moving from city
to city in search of work. If the turnover of "floaters" within any given
city were high, two conditions would be expected: (a) the rate of unemploy¬
ment among migrants would be; high; and (b) a high proportion of the migrants
interviewed at any given time v;ould have been in the city only a short time.
In Chicago, the first of these conditions obtained, but not the second.
Approximately the same number of migrants intervie\ired during the first week
of May 1941 reported that they had arrived in the city during October and
November 1940 as reported arriving during March and April 1941.
Industry Before and After Migration
The industrial distribution of Chicago migrant workers on their
A2703
- 3 -
last full-time job at their last place of residence before moving to
Chicago, and on the jobs in Chicago when the survey was made, was as follows.*
Industry At last residence In Chicago
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Agriculture
19
-
Mining
5
-
Construction
9
8
Manufacturing
21
44
Pood
5
11
Iron and steel
4
13
Other
12
20
Transportation and communication
5
6
Trade
15
19
Professional and governmental service
10
8
Domestic and personal services
7
8
Other
9
7
A very broad stratum (nearly one-fourth, in fact) of newly
arrived workers had come from agriculture and mining. Compensating in¬
creases took place among workers engaged in Chicago's manufacturing in¬
dustries, particularly food and iron and steel, and in trade. The other
industrial classes show no significant changes.
Age
The average age of all workers in the migrant families was 31.6
years, substantially below the average age of resident Chicago workers.
In 1-person families, the average age of workers was 27.0 years; in multi-
person families the average age of family heads was 33.1 years. Only one
worker in 20 was 45 years of age and over.
Origins
The Chicago migrants had come from exceptionally long distances.
Only 5 percent had moved from counties contiguous to Cook County; and only
19 percent had moved from other Illinois counties. States adjoining Illinois
(i.e., Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Wisconsin) contributed 24
percent. States not contiguous to Illinois contributed 53 percent of the
A2703
- 4 -
migrant families.
The great majority of the migrants had moved to Chicago from
urban places (i.e., places of 2,500 population or more), A total of 80
percent of the families had moved from urban places, and a large propor¬
tion of these had come from cities of more than 100,000 population. Rural
places contributed 22 percent. Most of the rural migrants came from vil¬
lages, rather than from places in the open country.
Finally, most of the families had come to the city of Chicago
for the first time. Among all the migrant families, 68 percent contained
no member who had ever lived in Chicago before; and 32 percent contained
one or more members who were formerly Chicago residents. Practically all
of the former Chicago residents had moved away from Chicago after 1930.
Living Arrangements
Considerably less than half of the Chicago migrant families oc¬
cupied a separate dwelling unit at the time of the survey; the majority
lived in rooming houses and hotels or had doubled up with other families.
The distribution of the families according to living arrangements was as
follows (exactly half the migrants were 1-person and exactly half were multi-
person families):
Multiperson
Living Arrangements Total l-person Families Families
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
44
18
70
Sharing a dwelling with others
47
63
30
In hotels
9
19
Conclusions
The flow of migrants, both Negro and white, into the Chicago
labor market during recent months has been very small. Moreover, the
A2703
- 5 -
evidence suggests that very few "floaters," moving from city to city in
search of work, are passing through the Chicago labor market. The record
of recent migration into Chicago offers no support for the belief that
the general increase in industrial activity outside important defense
centers had brought large numbers of ill-advised workers to the northern
industrial regions.
The Chicago survey does suggest, however, that important conse¬
quences would probably follow, shoxild the number of migrants appreciably
increase in the future. The newly arrived workers in the Chicago labor
market were considerably younger than the backlog of resident unemployed
workers. Hence it would be expected that the newcomers would be more
readily absorbed into Chicago's industries than the local unemployed; and
any sizeable increase in the flow of workers would accordingly decrease
the chances of reemployment for the local unemployed.
The record of the origins of Chicago migrants indicates that
important geographical and industrial shifts may be in process of begin¬
ning. The distance traveled by newcomers was exceptional; there are few
cases in the history of American internal migration to parallel the record
shown by recent Chicago migrants. It is significant, too, that two-thirds
of the migrants had never lived in Chicago before, and that one-fourth of
the new workers had left the farms and mines before moving to Chicago.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A5960
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 12, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Quincv. Illinois.
A survey of migration into Quincy, Illinois, was conducted by the
WPA Division of Research in December 1941, The survey was concerned with
civilians who moved to Qu? ncy from places outside Adams County after
October 1, 1S40, and who were still living there at the time of this survey.
Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts
and lower priced hotels within the corporate limits of Qplncy. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Q,uincy is an important stove-manufacturing center. When material
shortages first began to develop many months ago, it was anticipated that
Qpincy would suffer from widespread priorities unemployment. In the meantime,
however, Qpincy received defense contracts valued at about $10,000,000, which
were expected to relieve the local unemployment problem.
An estimated 800 families containing 700 workers and a total of
1,700 persons, who lived in Qpincy at the time of this survey, had moved to
the city from places outside Adams County after October 1, 1940. Migrants
made up a group equal to 4.2 percent of Quincy1s 1940 population.
Origin,?
Illinois was the chief source of Quincy migrants, contributing
50 percent of the total. Missouri was the second most important source,
contributing 34 percent. Six percent had moved from Iowa. The average dis¬
tance traveled by the migrants was 85 miles, and only 6 percent had traveled
500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of nearly two-fifths of the migrants;
i.e., 5 percent came from open country and 34 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 30 percent; small cities, 18
percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 13 percent.
Nearly one-fourth (23 percent) of the "migrant families had formerly
lived in Qaincy. About half of these families had been absent from the city
for 4 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and.Sex. The average age of migrant workers in Qpincy was 31.4
years. In 1-person families, the average was 24.6 years, and for heads of
multiperson families, 33.4 years. Nine percent of the workers were under
A3960
- 2 -
20 years, and 17 percent were 45 years and over.
Females constituted 27 percent of the migrant workers. The average
age of female workers was 25.8 years, as compared with 32.7 years for males.
Raoa. Negroes made up 2 percent of the Qpincy migrants, and 98
percent were white.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Quincy averaged 2.2 persons
per family when interviewed.
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 39
2 persons 28
3 and 4 persons 26
5 persons and over 7
A considerable proportion of these workers were not complete when
interviewed; 38 percent of the 1-person families and 11 percent of the multi-
person families had left a spouse or dependent children "behind when migrating
to Quincy. Before migration the families had contained 2,050 persons, of
whom 83 percent migrated to Qpincy and 17 percent stayed "behind.
Month of Arrival. The majority of the migrants arrived in Q^incy
in,August 1941 or before.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-April 1941 30
May-June 1941 14
July-August 1941 10
September-October 1941 30
November 1941 12
December 1941 4
Industry and Occupation
Before migration, the workers had engaged principally in trade,
"other" service industries, and agriculture, or had held no jobs. Although
the proportion of migrants contributed by manufacturing industries was
uncommonly small, manufacturing was the largest single employer of migrants
in Quincy, with trade and "other" service industries next in importance.
The industrial distribution of the migrants' last full-time jobs
at their last residence and their jobs in Qpincy was as follows:
A3 960
- 3 -
Industry At last residence In Quincy
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/ 18
Unemployed in Quincy - 6
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12
Mining. *
Construction h
Manufacturing 12 30
Iron and steel 3 10
Machinery b 9
Other 5 11
Transportation, communication and utilities 9 11
Trade 2 It 26
Personal services 2 b
Other services 19 18
* Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 9
percent; unemployed, 8 percent; and others, 1 percent.
White-collar workers made up the largest single occupational group
among the migrants, accounting for 39 percent before migration and 1|7 percent
in Quincy. Skilled and semiskilled workers together made up only a quarter
of the workers at their last residence and less than one-third in Quincy.
There were few non-farm laborers among the migrants.
The occupations of the workers before and after migration was as
follows:
Occupation At last residence In Quincy
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Mo job at last residence
18
_
Unemployed in Quincy
-
6
Professional and semiprofessional
11
12
Proprietors, managers, and officials
13
lb
Clerical and kindred workers
15
21
Craftsmen and kindred workers
lb
1U
Operatives and kindred workers
ll
17
Domestic service workers
l
3
Other service workers
3
6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
12
1
Laborers, except farm-
2
6
A3 960
- h -
Unemployment
Out of 700 migrant workers in Quincy, an estimated I4.O workers, or
6 percent, vrere unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding
interview.
Unemployment by Sex. Among female migrants, 9 percent, and among
male migrants, 5 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. Higrant workers years and over reported
the highest unemployment rate in Quincy:
Age of worker
Percent unemployed
Total
6
Tinder 20 years
20—2I4. years
29-lu-t years
hS years and over
6
2
7
9
Unemployment by Month of Arrival
during the month in which this survey was
times higher unemployment than average:
. Workers who arrived in Quincy
conducted reported about four
Month of arrival
Percent unemployed
Total
6
October 19ljO-June 19Ul
July-August 19l;l
September-October 19Ul
November 19lil
December 19Ul
2
6
9
8
29
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Highest unemployment in
Quincy was reported by manufacturing workers, and lowest rates were reported
by workers from trade and transportation. New workers and workers from
agriculture reported about average unemployment. Rates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence
Percent unemployed in Quincy
Total
6
Mo job
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
6
6
/
i
9
Transportation, communication and utilities 2
Trade 2
Personal service /
Other services 3
/ Base too small for computation
A3 960
_ 5 -
In terms of occupations, highest unemployment rates were reported by
skilled, semiskilled, domestic, and t'other" service workers. Professional and
proprietory workers showed least unemployment.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Quincy
Total
6
No job
6
Professional and proprietory
2
Clerical and kindred workers
7
Craftsmen and kindred workers
12
Operatives and kindred workers
12
Domestic and other service workers
lh
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
5
Laborers, except farm
/
/ Base too small for computation.
Housing
The majority of the Quincy migrant families were sharing living
quarters with other persons when enumerated. Slightly less than half occupied
a separate dwelling, and a few lived in hotels:
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying
a separate dwelling
U8
16
70
Sharing a
dwelling with others
5i
83
30
In hotels
l
1
\/_
Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The pattern of migration into Quincy during the first year of the
defense program closely resembles the pattern found in several other small
midwestern cities. It is characterized by a moderate volume of in-migration
and by relatively low unemployment among the migrants.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A2707
June 11, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Subject: Recent Migration into Fort Wayne. Indiana
Method.
A survey of migration into Fort Wayne, Indiana, was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during the first week of May 1941. The
survey was concerned with persons who moved, to Fort Wayne from places
outside of Allen County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living
in Fort Wayne during the first week of May 1941. Migrants living in both
residential and rooming-house districts were covered in the survey, and
a special survey was made in low-priced hotels. Trailer camps outside
the city limits and higher-priced hotels were not included in the survey.
No attempt was made to gather information about persons who had moved
away from Fort Wayne during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
At the time of the migration survey, Fort Wayne was enjoying
intense industrial activity. Factory employment had increased rapidly
after October 1940 as a result of defense subcontracts and generally in¬
creased activity in the electrical and farm implement industries. In
addition, construction work was under way on an Army air field and a
plant for the manufacture of airplane motors. In spite of this increased
activity, however, Fort Wayne still had a small backlog of unemployed
residents in May 1941, particularly concentrated among the unskilled
workers.
A2707
- 2 -
This situation had brought a large number of newcomers to
work in the fort Wayne labor market.
number of Migrants
Approximately 1,800 families living in fort Wayne during the first
week of May 1S41 had moved into Allen County after October 1, 1940. These
families contained about 1600 workers; there were fewer workers than familier
since one family in nine contained no workers. The families included approx¬
imately 3,200 persons. Migrants thus made up a group equal to 2.6 percent
of fort Wayne's 1940 population. The comparable figure for Akron was 0.8
percent; for Chicago, 0.7 percent. One-half of 1 percent of the migrants
were Wegroes; the rest were white.
Employment
Practically all of the fort Wayne migrant workers were employed.
Cut of 1,600 workers in the migrant families, 97 percent were employed at
the time of the survey, and only 3 percent were unemployed and seeking work.
Industry Before and After Migration
The industrial distribution of fort Wayne migrant workers on their
last full-time jobs at their last place of residence, and on their jobs in
fort Wayne at the time of the survey, was as follows:
Industry At ha-st Residence In fort Wayne
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
Wo job at last residence 10 -
Unemployed in fort Wayne - 3
Agriculture 7
Construction 18 20
Manufacturing 22 32
Electrical machinery and equipment 2 13
Transportation equipment 5 5
Other manufacturing 15 14
Transportation and communication 12 11
Trade 22 24
Other '9 10
A270?
- 3
Both "before and aftor migration, Fort Wayne migrants included
a particularly large proportion of workers engaged in construction, man¬
ufacturing, and - somewhat less to "be expected - in trade. Industrial
shifts were relatively minor. They consisted principally in shifts out
of agriculture and "no job" (either "because of unemployment or absence
from the labor market;) and a sizeable increase in electrical machinery
manufacturing.
Occupation Before and After Migration
The occupational distribution of Fort Wayne migrant workers
at their last place of residence and in Fort Wayne was as follows:
At last place
Occupation of residence In Fort Wayne
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
10
Unemployed in Fort Wayne
-
3
Professional and semiprofessional workers
6
6
Farm owners and managers
4
-
Other proprietors, managers, and officials
7
10
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
21
23
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
27
25
Operatives and kindred workers
1?
25
Domestic service workers
2
1
Other service workers
2
5
Farm laborers and foremen
2
—
Laborers, except farm
2
2
Fort Wayne migrants included an unusually small proportion
of unskilled workers. Both before and after migration, 8 percent of
the workers were engaged in unskilled occupations. The largest broad
grouping was in white-collar occupations, which supplied nearly two-
fifths of the migrants' jobs in Fort Wayne.
A2707
- 4 -
Turnover
The Fort Wayne survey provides no direct information on the
turnover of migrants. Obviously, the number of migrants who had moved
to Fort Wayne after October 1, 1940 and left before the survey was con¬
ducted in the first week of May 1941 could not be measured. The survey
does, however, provide a basis for inferences about one type turnover.
If there were a high turnover of "floaters," unemployed workers
moving from city to city in search of work, one would expect two condi¬
tions to exist at any given time: (a) a high proportion of migrants would
have arrived in the city shortly before the survey was made; and (b) the
rate of unemployment among migrants would be high.
In Fort Wayne the first of these conditions did obtain: 29per¬
cent of the migrants interviewed in May had arrived during March and April,
while only 7 percent had arrived in October and November 1940. Moreover,
a considerable number of the migrants were construction workers, a group
known to be highly mobile during recent months. As noted above, however,
the rate of unemployment among Fort Wayne migrants was exceptionally small.
It appears to be improbable, therefore, that any great number of unemployed
floaters were passing through the Fort Wayne labor market at the time of
the survey.
Am
The average age of all workers in the migrant families was 28.2
years, far below the average age of local Fort Wayne workers. In 1-person
families, the average was 25.0 years; in multiperson families the average
age of family heads was 31.0 years. Only one worker in seven was 45 years
A2707
- 5 -
of age or over. The very marked youth of the Fort Wayne migrant workers
accounts, in part, for the fact that practically all were able to secure
work in a labor market which still contained some resident unemployed
workers.
Origins
Fort Wayne migrants had travelled somewhat greater distances
than is common among American migrants. Counties adjoining Allen County
(including 3 counties in Ohio) were the origin of 22 percent of the fami¬
lies; other counties in Indiana contributed 26 percent; adjacent States
contributed 34 percent; and nonadjacent States contributed 18 percent.
A marked rural-to-urban population shift is revealed in the
origins of Fort Wayne migrants. Sural places (places of less than 2,500
population) contributed 34 percent of the migrant families; i.e., 20 per¬
cent came from villages and 14 percent from places in the open country.
Urban places contributed 66 percent of the migrants.
The great majority of the families had moved to Fort Wayne for
the first time. Among all the migrant families, 76 percent contained no
member i^ho had ever lived in Fort Wayne before, and 24 percent contained one
or more members reporting a previous Fort Wayne residence. About two-thirds
of the former Fort Wayne residents had moved away from Fort Wayne after 1936.
living Arrangements
/
Only about two-fifths of all the migrant families occupied a
separate dwelling unit when enumerated in the survey. The distribution
of the families according to their living arrangements was as follows:
A2707
- 6 -
Living Arrangements
Total
(Percent distribution)
Multiperson
1--person families families
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling 41
Sharing a dwelling with others 45
In hotels
14
11
64
25
75
24
1
Conclusion
The recent flow of migrants into Port Wayne has been relatively
large. In terms of its population, Port Wayne has absorbed about four
times as many migrants as Akron and Chicago in recent months. Judging,
however, from the exceptionally low rate of unemployment among the migrants,
the movement into Port Wayne has - to date, at least - involved little hard¬
ship or waste motion.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A36U2
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December U, 19U1
MEHORANDUM
Recent Migration into Indianapolis, Indiana
A survey of migration into Indianapolis, Indiana, was completed by the
NPA Division of Research early in October 19l|l. The survey was concerned with
civilians who moved to Indianapolis from places outside of Ilarion County after
October 1, 19k0, and who were still living there at the time of the survey.
Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts, room¬
ing house districts, and lower-priced hotels inside the Indianapolis corporate
limits. Higher-priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to
gather information about persons who left Indianapolis during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 19^0 and September 19U1, Indianapolis received prime
defense contracts valued at $l6U,000,000, equal to slightly more than half the
1937 value of manufactures in Indianapolis. Actual production, however, had
not yet reached peak tempo at the time of the present survey, and maximum em¬
ployment was not anticipated before the spring of 19U2.
Between August 19h.O and August 19Ul, employment in Indianapolis manu¬
facturing industries rose 27.0 percent. In filling the resulting large number
of new jobs, employers have generally given preference to white males under 29
years of age. According to local reports, practically all the unemployed
workers in this preferred group had been rehired by the time of this survey,
but the unemployed in other unskilled categories remained relatively numerous.
In October 19Ul, local estimates set the number of these unemployed at 10,000
workers.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 5,200 families living in Indianapolis at the time of the
present survey had moved to the city from places outside of Marion County after
October 1, 19l0. These families contained 5,100 workers (a few families containei
no workers, and a small number contained-more than one worker). Present in the
families were 12,600 persons. Migrants made up a group equal to 3*2 percent of
Indianapolis' 19U0 population.
Origins
Indiana was the principal source of Indianapolis migrants, contributing
53 percent. The next most important sources, in the order of their contribution,
were: Kentucky, 10 percent; Illinois, 7 percent; Ohio, 6 percent; and Tennessee,
5 percent. The average distance traveled by the migrants was 95 miles, and 1
migrant in every 12 had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places (less than 2,500 population), were the origin of more than
one-fourth of the migrants, i.e., 3 percent had come from open country and 2l) per¬
cent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 3l per¬
cent; small cities, 19 percent; and cities" of over 100,000 population, 20 percent.
About one-fifth of the families (21 percent) had formerly lived in
Indianapolis. Half of these families had been absent from the city for I)
years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all •workers in the migrant families was
29.2 years. In 1-person families, the average was 21)..0 y^ars, and for-heads of
multiperson families, 32.0 years. Workers under 20 years made \ip 10 percent of
the workers, and those 1)5 years and over, 12 percent.
A3 61*2
-3-
Women workers made up 1J> percent of all Indianapolis migrant workers.
The average age of the women was 2k.2 years, as compared with 30.0: years for the
men.
Race. Negroes constituted k percent of the■migrants. Based on 19^0
population, the migrant rate for Negroes was 0.9 percent as against 3*6 percent
for'white persons.
Size of Family,■ Migrant families in Indianapolis were, relatively
' I .
large; only one-third consisted of one person, and. approximately two-fifths
contained 3 persons or more:
Size of family in Indianapolis Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 33
2 persons 27
3 and k persons 32
5 persons and over 8
A large number of these families were not complete when interviewed;
h0 percent of the 1-person families and 11 percent of the multipcrsoh families
had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved to Indianapolis.
Before migration, the families had contained lJf,800 persons; of. these, 12,600
had migrated and 2,200 had rtemained at the migrants1 places of origin.
Month of Arrival. The distribution of the migrant workers according
to the month of their arrival in Indianapolis was as follows:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19d0-January 19i|l 15
February-March 19Ul 13
April-May 19Ul 20
June-July 19Ul 2k
August 19lil 17
September 19Ul 11
A36U2
- k -
Industry and Oocupation
Indianapolis migrants at their last residences had been engaged
principally in manufacturing, trade, and "other" service industries. Agricul¬
ture also contributed a relatively large number of workers, but the proportion
who had held no job at last residence was relatively small. In Cndianapolis,
the most important employer of migrants was manufacturing, which occupied about
half the workers: and the largest single manufacturing industry was the manu¬
facture of transportation equipment.
The industry of migrant workers on their last full-time jobs at their
last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Indianapolis was as follows:
Industry At last In
residence Indianapolis
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/ 11
Unemployed in Indianapolis
-
6
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
15
*
Mining
2
1
Construction
6
8
Manufacturing
27
i;8
Transportation equipment
~E
22
Other
21
26
Transnortation, communication, and utilities
7
8
Trade
,15
lk
Domestic service
h
3
Other services
13
12
-x- Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 6 percent;
~~ housewives, 1 percent; unemployed, 3 percent; and others, 1 percent.
Although Indianapolis migrants were principally clerks, craftsmen, and
operatives both before and after migration, two kinds of occupational shifts
A361+2
- 5 -
were involved in the movement. Ex-students tended to shift into clerical and
operative's jobs; and former farm workers turned to operatives' and laborers'
jobs in Indianapolis.
Occupations before and after migration follow:-
Occupation
Total
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Indianapolis
Professional and semi-professional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers •
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
* Less than 0.5 percent.
At last In
residence Indianapolis
(.Percent distribution)
100
11
h
8
16
13
19
2
6
1U
7
100
5
6
18
19
25
2
6
-x-
12
Unemployment
Out of 5,100 migrant workers in Indianapolis, approximately 290, or
6 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding
interview. Comparable figures for other recently surveyed cities are:
Baltimore, 3 percent; Wichita, Kansas, 13 percent; and St. Louis, Mo., 16 percent.
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrants reported about four times the un¬
employment rate of men. Among the women, 15 percent were unemployed; among the
men, k percent.
Unemployment by Race. Negroes reported more than double the unemploy¬
ment rate of white workers. Among the Negroes, 13 percent were unemployed;
among white workers, 5 percent.
A36U2
- 6 -
Unemployment by Age. The youngest migrants reported the highest un¬
employment rates in Indianapolis, and the least unemployment was reported by
workers over years. Rates by age were as follows:
Age of workers Percent unemployed
in Indianapolis
Total 6
Under 20 years lli
20-2U years 5
2%-hk years 5
US years and over *
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. The highest unemployment rates were
reported by workers who had arrived in Indianapolis during the months shortly
before the present survey was conducted.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
in Indianapolis
Total 6
October 19U0- January 19U1 3
February-May 19U1 3
June-July 19Ul* 5
August 19U1 8
September 19kl 11
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Except for workers who were
domestic servants at their last residence, no industrial group showed a particu¬
larly high unemployment rate in Indianapolis. New entrants to the labor market
reported below-average unemployment, and the rate was very low among construction
workers. Rates by industry at last residence were as follows:
A3 61*2
- 7 -
Percent unemployed
Industry at last residence in Indianapolis
Total ^
No job at last residence k
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6
Mining *
Construction "*
Manufacturing 7
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
Trade 5
Domestic service 13
Other services 2
Less than 0.5 percent.
In terms of occupation, professional, proprietory and clerical
workers and craftsmen reported very little unemployment, while operatives
and service workers were well above average. Ex-farm workers reported average
unemployment in Indianapolis. Rates by occupation at last residence follow.
Percent unemployed
Occupation at last residence In Indianapolis
Total 6
No job 1*
Professional, proprietory and clerical 2
Craftsmen and kindred workers 2
Operatives and kindred workers 11
Personal and other service workers 10
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 6
Laborers, except farm 3
Housing
Half the migrant families were occupying a separate dwelling
unit when enumerated in Indianapolis; somewhat less than half were sharing
a dwelling with another family; and a small number lived in hotels.
A36U2
- 8 -
1-person Kultiperson
Living Arrangements Total families families
TPercent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
50
15
66
Sharing a dwelling with others
U6
72
3k
In hotels
a
13
*
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In Indianapolis, as in several of the other large industrial
cities surveyed, (particularly in Baltimore and St. Louis) immigration during
the first year of the defense program reached significant volume. This move¬
ment had been generally successful in the case of Indianapolis; among eleven
cities covered to date by this survey, only two, Baltimore and Fort Wayne,
Ind., reported a lower general rate of unemployment among migrants.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3948
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 11. 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into LaFayette. Indiana
A survey of migration into LaFayette, Indiana, was conducted by
the W?A Division of Research during October 1941. The survey was concerned
with civilians who moved to LaFayette from places outside Tippecanoe County
after October 1, 1940, and who were still living there at the time of the
survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential
districts and lower-priced hotels within the LaFayette corporate limits.
Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather
information about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Although LaFayette has received only small direct defense con¬
tracts, local employment increased rapidly during the first vear of the
defense program. The chief new employment was provided at the local aluminum
plant, which employed about three times more workers in October 1941 than
in October 1940. Meantime, however, material shortages had begun to curtail
employment in other LaFayette industries, and according to local reports, a
sizable backlog of resident unemployed workers had accumulated by the time
of the survey.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 1,050 families living in LaFayette at the time of this
survey had moved to the city from places outside Tippecanoe County after
October 1, 1940. These families contained 1,100 workers and a total of 2,500
persons. LaFayette migrants made up a group equal to 8.5 percent of the
city's 1940 population.
Origins
Indiana was the major source of the migrants, contributing 75 percent
of the total. Illinois was second, with 9 percent, and .Kentucky third with
5 percent. Two percent had moved from Tennessee. The average distance
traveled by the migrants was 70 miles, and only 4 percent traveled 500 miles
or more.
Rural places were the origin of more than one-third of the migrants;
i.e., 1 percent came from open country and 35 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 36 percent; small cities, 12
percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 16 percent.
Sixteen percent of the families had formerly lived in LaFayette.
About half of these families had been absent for 3 years or more.
A3948
- 2 ~
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers in LaFayotte was
27.7 years. In 1-person families, the average was 23.4 yfears, and for heads
of multiperson families, 31.5 years. Twelve percent of the workers were
under 20 years, and 12 percent were 45 years and over.
Female workers made up 24 percent of the migrant labor force. The
average age of female migrants was 22.9 years, as compared with 29.2 years
for males.
Race. Negroes constituted 2 percent of the LaFayette migrants,
and 98 percent were white.
Size of Family. The average size of migrant families in LaFayette
was 2.4 persons. About two-fifths contained one person when interviewed.
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 38
2 persons 22
3 and 4 persons 32
5 persons or more 8
A large proportion of these families were not complete when inter¬
viewed; 46 percent of the 1-person families and 4 percent of the multiperson
families had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they migrated.
Before migration, the families had contained 3,100. Of these, 80 percent
migrated and 20 percent remained at the migrants' last residences.
Month of Arrival. About half of the LaFayette migrants had arrived
during May or earlier.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-February 1941 20
^arch-April 1941 15
May-June 1941 21
July-August 1941 22
September 1941 11
October 1941 11
Industry and Occupation
LaFayette migrants came principally from trade, agriculture, and
from the group reporting "no job" at their last residence. Only one in seven
had been engaged in manufacturing. In LaFayette, however, manufacturing was
the largest single employer of migrant workers, and the majority of these were
engaged in aluminum manufacturing. A large proportion of Workers were also
employed in LaFayette trade industries.
A3948
-3-
The industrial distribution of tho migrants on their last full-time
jobs at their last residence and on thoir jobs when interviewed in Lafayette
was as follows:
Industry At last residence In Lafayette
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
Ho job at last residence 1/ 15
Unemployed in Lafayette - 6
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13 *
Mining 1 *
Construction 8 11
Manufacturing 14 36
Hon-ferrous metals 1 21
Other 13 15
Transportation, communication, and utilities 10 8
Trade 25 23
Personal service 5 7
Other service 9 10
* Less than 0,5. percent
1J The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 8
percent; housewives, 1 percent; unemployed, 5 percent; others, 1 percent.
Lafayette migrants were predominantly clerks, craftsmen, and
operatives. Before migration these three groups made up half the workers,
and in Lafayette, they made up nearly two-thirds. The principal occupational
shifts were from, the "no job" group to clerical work and from farm jobs to
operative work.
Occupation At last residence In Lafayette
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
15
-
Unemployed in Lafayette
-
5
Professional and semiprofessional
4
4
Proprietors, managers, and officials
5
5
Clerical and kindred workers
16
20
Craftsmen and kindred workers
15
17
Operatives and kindred workers
18
26
Domestic service workers
2
2
Other service workers
8
13
farm owners, tenants, and laborers
13
*
Laborers, except farm
4
8
* Less than 0.5 percent.
AS 948
- 4 -
Unemployment
Cut of 1,100 migrant workers in Lafayette, an estimated. 50 workers,
or 5 percent, were, unemployed and seeking work d.uring the week preceding
interview.
Unemployment by Sex. Among female migrants, 12 percent, and among
male migrants, 2 percent, reported unemployment. The majority of the unemployed
workers were females.
Unemployment by Ha.ce. Pour percent of the white workers, and 20
percent of the Negroes, were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. Workers aged 25-44 years reported the lowest
unemployment rate in LaPayette.
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 5
Under 20 years 6
20-24 years 6
25-44 years 3
45 years and over 6
Unemployment "by Month of Arrival. There was little variation in
unemployment according to the month in which workers arrived in LaPayette.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 5
October 1940-April 1941 4
May-July 1941 3
August-September 1941 7
October 1S41 3
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. The most successful
industrial groups migrating to LaPayette were workers from manufacturing
and "other" service industries; and fr-rm workers reported below-average
unemployment. Personal service workers were the least successful. Unem¬
ployment rates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in LaPayette
Total 5
No job 5
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3
Mining /
Construction 4
Manufacturing *
Transportation, communication and utilities 7
Trade" 4
Personal service 23
Other service
■I Base too small for computation
* Less than 0.5 percent
A3948
- 5 -
In terms of occupations, non-farm laborers reported unusual success
in finding jobs, and skilled and semiskilled workers showed less than average
unemployment. Clerks and domestic and other service workers reported the
highest unemployment rates. Rates by occupation follow!
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in LaFayette
Total 5
Ho job 5
Professional and proprietory workers *
Clerical and kindred workers 9
Craftsmen and kindred workers 2
Operatives and kindred workers 2
Domestic and other service workers 15
Farm ovmers,tenants, and laborers 3
Laborers, except farm *
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
The majority of the LaFayette migrant families occupied separate
living quarters when interviewed. About two-fifths were sharing a dwelling,
and a few lived in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiporson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying
a separate dwelling 53
2
84
Sharing a
dwelling with others 43
87
16
In hotels
4
11
*
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In terms of its population, LaFayette has recently attracted a
largo volume of in-migration. Among the 51 cities covered in these surveys,
only 12 reported a higher migrant rate. LaFayette migrants were relatively
successful in finding jobs; their unemployment rate is well below the average
reported by migrants in all the cities surveyed.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Wcvk Projects Administration
December 20, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into South Bend. Indiana
A survey of migration into South Bend, Indiana, was completed by
the WPA Division of Research in the early part of November 1941. The survey
was concerned with civilians who moved to South Bend from places outside of
St. Joseph County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living in South
Bend at the time of the present survey. Operating on a sample basis, the sur¬
vey covered the. residential districts and lower-priced hotels within the cor¬
porate limits, of S.outh B.end. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no
attempt \\ras made to gather information about persons who left South 3end
during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
South Bend is an important center of defense production. Between
June 1940 and August 1941, St. Joseph County received prime defense contracts
valued at about $100,000,000, and equal to about three-fifths of the 1937 value
t
of all manufactures in the county. The greater part of the defense activity
is centered in the production of aircraft motors and parts. As a result of
this activity, manufacturing employment in South Bend increased 31.5 percent
between September 1940 and September 1941, giving South Bend 29th rank among
,84 American cities.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,600 families living in South Bend at the time of
this survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. These families con¬
tained 2,700 wsrlcers and a total of 5,500 persons. Migrants made up a. group
equal to 5.5 percent of South Bend's 1940 population.
A3723 _ 2 -
Origins
Indiana was the principal source of South Bend migrants, contributing
36 percent, and Illinois was second with 20 percent, Michigan contributed 13
percent; Ohio', 5 percent; and California end Wisconsin, 3 percent each. The
average "distance traveled "by the migrants was 110 miles, and 13 percent travel¬
ed 500 miles or more.
Rural planes (less than 2,500 population) were the origin of 18 percent
of the migrants; i.e., 3 percent -cairle from open country and 15 percent from
rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 26'percent;
snail cities, 21 percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 35 percent.
One-fifth of the families had. formerly lived in South Bend. About
half of these families had. been absent from the city for 5 years or more.
Chara.c toristics
Ago and Sex. The average-age of migrant workers in South Bend was
31.7 years. In 1-person families tho average age was 28.3 years, and for
heads of nrultiperson families, 34.S yeans.- Eight percent of all workers were
under 20"yeo.rs, and 14 percent wcro 45 yeans or over.
Women workers made up 15 percent of all the migrant workers. The
average age of women workers was 25.2 years, as compared with 32.6 ja.ars for
men.
Race. Negroes constituted 2 percent of all migrants in South Bend.
Size of Family. Migrant families when interviewed in South Bend,
averaged 2.2 persons per family.
A3723 - 3 -
Size of family Percent distribution
Tot 3.1 100
1 person -4
2 persons 03
3 and 4 persons 07
5 persons and over 6
Some of these families were not complete; 33 percent of the 1-person
families end 7 percent of the multiperson families had left a. spouse or depend¬
ent children "behind when they moved to South Bend. Before migration, the
families had contained 6,500 persons. Of these, 85 percent had migrated and
15 percent had remained at the migrants' places of origin.
Month of Arrival. Half of the migrants interviewed in South 3cnd
had come to the city ah out- 4 months or more "before the present survey:
Month of Arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-February 1941 20
March-April 1941 9
May-June 1941 17
July-August 1941 21
September 1941 15
October 1941 1/ 18
l/ Includes a part of November 1941.
Industry and Occnnation
Before migration, the South Bend migrants were principally engaged
in manufacturing, trade, and "ether" service industries. A few were farmers
and construction workers. After migration to South Bend, the proportion
engaged in manufacturing nearly doubled, largely as a result of a very sharp
shift of workers into the manufacture of transportation equipment.
The industrial attachment of the migrant workers on their last full-
time jobs at their last residence, and on their jobs when interviewed in South
Bend, is shown in the following table:
A3723
- 4 -
Industry At last residence In South Bend
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1,/
11
—
Unemployed in South Bend
-
4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
7
1
Mining
1
-
Construction
7
8
Manuf actur ing
28
47
Iron and steel
4
6
Machinery
9
5
Transportation equipment
6
28
Other
9
8
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
7
Trade
17
18
Personal services
5
3
Other services
17
12
1./ The status of these workers at last residence was: students,
8 percent; housewives, 1 percent; unemployed, 1 percent; others,
1 percent.
The migration of workers into South Bend was principally a movement
of clerks, craftsmen, and operatives, T^ese three groups constituted 54 per¬
cent of the migrant workers before migration, and S3 percent in South Bond.
Few workers wore drawn from the unskilled categories and few wore working at
unskilled jobs in South Bend,
Occupation At last rosidonco In South Band
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 11
Unemployed in South Bend - 4
Professional and semiprofessional. ■ 8 9
Proprietors, managers, and officials 11 10
Clerical and kindred xirorkers 18 21
Craftsmen and kindred workers 18 15
Operatives and kindred workers 18 27
Domestic service workers 2 1
Other service workers 4 7
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 7 1
Laborers, enccpt farm 3 5
A3723
—T 5 —
Unemployment
Out of 2,700 migrant workers in South Bend, an estimated IjO workers,
or 4 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding the
present survey. In other recently surveyed cities, unemployment ranged from
\
3 percent in Baltimore, Md., and Burlington, Iova, to 17 percent in Port Smith,
Arkansas.
Unemployment "by Sex. The majority of the unemployed migrants in
South 3end were females. Among all female migrant workers, 15 percent were
unemployed, as compared with 2 percent for males.
Unemployment "by Age. The highest unemployment rate was reported "by
workers under 20 years:
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 4
Under 20 years 11
20-24 years 6
25-44 years 2
45 years and over 5
Unemployment hy Race. Negroes reported about seven times the unem¬
ployment rate of white workers. Among Negroes, 20 percent, and among white
workers, 3 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Unemployment was highest among
workers who arrived in South Bend during the early sumnar of 1341:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 4
October 1940-February 1941 3
March-April 1941 2
May-June 1941 % 7
July-August 1941 2
September 1941, 3
October 1941 6
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Only one industry group,
workers from the personal service industries, showed a particularly high
A3723
~ 6 -
unemployment rate in South Bend. Workers from construction, manufacturing, a.nri
"other" services reported very little unemployment, a,no. workers from agriculture
and those v/ho held no jot at last residence reported the average unemployment
rate. Hates by industry at last residence follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in South 3enA
Total 4
No job 4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4
Mining /
Construction 1
Manufacturing 2
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
Trade 6
Personal services 24
Other services 1
■f Base too small for computation.
In terms of occupation, the craftsmen and operatives had fared best
in South Bend. Unemployment among white-collar groups was no less than average,
and the higherst rate was reported by "other" service workers. Unemployment
rates by occupation folloxtr:
Occnma.tion at last residence Percent unenuloyed i;i South 3er.c"
Total 4
No job 4
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 4
Craftsmen and kindred workers *
Operatives .and kindred workers 2
Domestic service workers •/
Other service workers -11
Paria owners, tenants, and laborers 4
Laborers, except farm /
/ Base too snail for computation
* Less time 0.5 percent.
Housing
Considerably less than half of the Soutfh Bend migrants **ere occupyi^i
A5733
- 7 -
separate living quarters at the tir.e of this survey. The majority of the
families had doubled up with other persons, anc. a few lived in hotels.
Multiperscn
Living arrangements Total l-norson families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
40
5
67
Sharing a dwelling with others
56
86
32
In hotels
4
0
1
CofiClusions
In terns of its population, South Bend has recently attracted a
large flow of migrant workers. Among the 10 cities of over 100,000 population
which have recently been covered in this survey, only two—Wichita,- Kansas
and Bridgeport, Connecticut—-reported higher migrant rates. The movement to
South Bond lias been generally successful, for very few of the migrants had
failed to find work after their arrival.
FEDERAL 70HKS AC-EaTCY
Work Projects Adhir.istivtion
Bivision of 3.csearch
A3860
FEDERAL WORKS AGENQY
Vo!rk Project a AdjilnJ.strr.tion
January 22, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Torre Haute. Indiana
A survey of migration into Torre Haute, -Indiana, was
conducted by the WPA Division of Research in mid-December, 1941.
The survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Terre Haute
from places outside Vigo County after October 1, 1940, and who
were still living there when this survey was conducted. Operating
on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts
and lower-priced hotels within the corporate limits of Terre Haute.
Higher-priced hotels were not covered, and no attempt was made to
gather information about pojrsans who left the city during the
survey period.
Industrial Activity
Vigo County received no sizable defense contracts between
Juno 1940 and October 1941. Substantially increased employment was
reported, however, among Terre Haute railroad and foundry workers,
although this activity was offset in part by layoffs in' other
industries resulting from shortages of materials. At the time of
this survey, it was reported that the local labor market still
contained a large backlog of resident unemployed worker's. Iiocal
reports indicate a heavy out-migration of Terre Haute workers to
nearby defense cities during the year preceding this survey.
Number of 'Migrants
An estimated 1,000 families containing 1,000 worker's and
a total of 2,300 persons living within the corporate limits of Terre
Haute in December 1941 had moved to..the city alter October 1, 1940.
Migrants made up a group equal to 3.7 percent' of Terre Haute1s 1940
population.
Origins'.
Over half of the migrants came from Indiana. Illinois
contributed 27 percent and Ohio 5 percent of the migrants. Torre
Haute migrant's traveled an average of 85 miles. Only 4 percent
traveled 500'miles or more.
Rural places contributed 24 percent of the migrants', i.;'c.,
3 percent originated in the open country and 21 loercorit in rural "vil¬
lages. Townb (2,500 population to 25,000) contributed ;38 percent.;
small cities 13 percent; and large cities (100,000 population or'over)
25 percent of the migrants.
A3860
r\
— &
Former Terre residents returning to the city made
up 21 percent of the migrants. Half of these returning families had
been absent from the city'for 5 years or more.'
Characteristics
Age and Sex. Terre Haute migrants were relatively old in
comparison with migrants in other cities. The average age of migrant
workers in Terre Haute was 32*1. years. One-person families averaged
25.3 years, ahd heads of .multi-person families 35.2 years.' ' Nine'
percent of the workers were under 20 years, and 15 percent were 45
years and over.
Women.workers comprised 22 percent of the-migrant labor
force. The average age of women workers was 27.3 years, as .compared
with 33.4 years for men.
Race. Practically all migrant persons in Terr-e Haute were
white; Negroes made up.l percent end white persons 99 percent of the
migrants.
Size of Family. Migrant' families averaged. 2.3 persons.
Size of family in Terre Haute Percent distribution
Total
100
1-pcrson
37
2-persons-
26
3 and 4 persons
30
5 persons and more
7.
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; however,
29- percent of the 1-porson families and 4 percent- of the multi-person
families left a spouse or dependent children at their last residence.
The families contained 2,600 persons before migration. Of these, 89
percent moved to Torre Haute and 11 percent remained at the migrants1
last residences.
Month.of Arrival. Wore than half of the migrant workers
arrived, in Terre Haute pritr to August 1941.
Month of .arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October-April 1941 25
May-June.'1941, 16
July-August 1941 14
September 1941 13
October 1941 10
November 1941 . 11
December 1941 if 11
if Does not include the entire month
A3860
- 3 -
Industry and Occupation
The principal industries of the Terre Haute migrants were
trade and "other" service industries which occupied more than two-fifths
of the wo rice rs before migration and half cf them in Terre Haute. The
proportion engaged in transportation was much larger than ordinary,
and the proportion in manufacturing much smaller. A large proportion
of the workers held no jobs at their last residence, but relatively few
migrants came from either agriculture or mining.
The fallowing table shows the industries of the migrant
workers on their last full-time jobs at their last residence and en
their jcbs in Terre Haute.
Industry At last residence In Terre Haute
Percent distribution
Total
100
100
Ho job at last residence IJ
19
_
Unemployed in Terre Haute
—
4
Agriculture, forestry, and, fishing
5
*
Mining .
2
4
Construction
2
*
Manuf acturing
15
19
Hood and allied products
5
9
Other
10
10.
Transportation, communication, and
utilities
12
IS
Trade
23
27
Personal Service
3
7
Other services
19
23.
* Less than 0.5 percent
1J The status of these workers at their last residence was: students
f2 percent; housewives 1 percent; unemployed 4 percent; and others 2
percent.
In terms cf occupations, Terre Haute migrants were .principally
white-collar and semiskilled workers; before migration more than naif the
workers, and after migration nearly two-thirds, fell within these two
occupational classes. There wore relatively few skilled workers among
the migrants, and very few unskilled.
Occupations before and after migration follow:
A3860
- 4 -
Occufsation At last residence . : In Terre Haute
Percent distribution
Total
100
100
Ho Job at last.residence
19
Unemployed in Terre Haute
~
4
Professional and semiprpfessional
11
11
Proprietors, managers, and officials •
10
11.
Clerical and kindred workers
20
•24
Craftsmen and kindred workers
8
8
Operatives and kindred workers
13
19
Domestic service workers
2
5
Other service workers
8
13
Farm owners, tenants and laborers
5
*
Laborers except farm
4
5
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of the 1,000 migrant workers in Terre Hauto an estimated
40,-or 4 percent, were unemployed and seeking work in the census week
preceding this survey.
Unemployment by Sex
The unemployment rates among women migrant workers was tnrao
times greater than among the men. Three percent.of the men and 9 percent
of the women were unemployed.
Unemployment, by Age
Workers in the younger and older age groups wore somewhat
less successful than the middle.age groups in finding employment.
«
Ago of worker Percent unemployed in Torre Hauto
Total 4
5
3
3
7
Unemployment by Month of Arrival
Under 20 years
20-24 -years
25-44 years
45 years and over
The most recently arrived workers had the highest unemployment
rates in Torre Haute.
A3 860
. 5 _
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Terre Haute.
Total k
October—April 19Ul ^
May-June 19Ul 3
July-August 19U- *
September 19lfL U
October 19Ul
November 19'il 5
December 19^1 Ik
* Less Than 0.9 percent.
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation
The least successful Terre Haute migrants were those engaged
in personal service and agriculture at their last residence. New
workers and workers from "other" services were singularly successful in
obtaining employment.
Industry at last residence Unemployed in Terre Haute
Total h
No Job
Agriculture 11-
Mining /
Construction /
Manufacturing ii
Transportation, communication, and
utilities I4
Trade I;
Personal service 18
Other services
Less than 0.5 percent
/ Base too small for computation
Relatively high unemployment was reported by farm workers
and domestic and "other"service workers. Clerks, non-farm laborers,
and new workers reported virtually no unemployment. Rates by occu¬
pation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Terre Haute
Total I4.
No job -it-
Professional and proprietory 3
Clerical and kindred workers *
Craftsmen, and kindred workers • 7
Operatives and kindred workers I4.
Domestic and other service workers 1I4.
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 11
Laborers except farm
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3 860
- 6 -
Housing
The majority of Torre Haute migrants were occupying a separate
dwelling unit when enumerated. Over one-third were sharing living
quarters with other persons and a small proportion -were living in hotels.
Living arrangements
Total
1-person families Mult:.
-nor;
Percent distribute
ion
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
58
6
89
Sharing a dwelling with others
36
78
11
In hotels
6
16
*-
* Less than C.f? percent
Conclusions
Recent migration into Teore Haute has been relatively successful
and, in view of the reported dull labor market, relatively large. In spite
of the volume of in-migration,- however, it appears probable that' Terrc
Haute1s net population was declining throughout the period covered by this
survey. The Census found 3.2 percent of Terre Haute1s dwellings to be
vacant in April 19a0.j but at the tine of this survey, the proportion of
vacancies had increased to l+.l percent.
' 'FEDERAL WORKS ;w)E:rii
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3687
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 16, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Burlington. Iowa
A survey of migration into Burlington, Iowa, one of the
Nation's great new munitions centers, was completed by the OTA Division of
Research in the early part of November 1941. The survey was concerned with
civilians who moved to Burlington from places outside of Des Moines County
after October 1, 1940, and who were still living in Burlington at the time
of the present survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the
residential districts, lower-priced hotels, and trailer camps, both private
and Government-owned, within the corporate limits of the city. An additional
canvass was made of trailer camps around the edges of the city. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about
persons who had loft Burlington during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Burlington is the location of the new Iowa Ordnance Plant.
Between June 1940 and August 1941, prime defense contracts awarded in con¬
nection with this plant were valued at about $65,000,000, a sum more than six
times greater than the value of all Burlington manufactures during 1937.
About half the total defense-contract value was allotted to plant constx-uction
and about half to the prodxxction of ordnance.
Construction of the plant was begun late in 1940, but peak
construction employment was not reached until July 1941, when about 13,000
workers were employed. Construction employment declined rapidly in the late
summer and fall as the plant approa.ch.ed completion. During the same period
completed sections of the plant begc?n operation, providing new employment on
a somewhat smaller scale than the original construction job. At the time of
A3687
- 2 -
the present survey, it was locally estimated that 10,000 workers were still
employed about the plant, either on the last phases of construction or in
production at newly installed operating units.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,800 families living in Burlington at the time of
the present survey had moved-to the .city after October 1, 1940. These families
contained 2,900 workers and 5,000 persons. Migrants made .up a group equal to
19.2 percent of Burlington's 194-0 population.
The survey found an additional 330 families,, containing 900
persons, in touriqt and trailer camps just outside the Burlington city limits.
Origins
Iowa was the most important source of Burlington migrants, con¬
tributing 39 percent; and Illinois was second with 22 percent. Minnesota end
Missouri each contributed 9 percent, and 3 percent came from Wisconsin. The
average distance traveled by the migrants was 140 miles; 11 percent had
traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places (less than 2,500 population) contributed slightly less
than one-third of the migrants; i.e., 2 percent came from the open country
and 29 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) con¬
tributed 30 percent; small cities, 19 percent; and cities of over 100,000
population, 20 percent.
Only 3' percent of the migrant families had formerly lived in
Burlington.
Chan act eristics
Age and Sex. The average ago of migrant workers in Burlington was
33.7 yeans, considerably above the average for migrants in other cities
A3687 - 3 -
surveyed.. In 1-person families, the average ago was 33,4 years.; and for heads
of Eiultipcrson families, 35,2 years. Only 4 porcont of the workers were under
20 years, but 23 porcont were 45 years and ovor.
Ten percent of the migrant workers wore women. The average age of
women workers was 27.1 years, as compared with 34.7 years for men.
Race. Practically all the migrants were white; ITegroes accounted
for less than one-half of 1 percent of the total migrants in Burlington,
Size of Family. Migrant families in Burlington were relatively
small, averaging 1.8 persons per family. Mere than half of the families con¬
tained only one person.
Size of family in Burlington Percent distribution
Total
100
1 person
53
2 persons
25
3 and 4 persons
19
5 persons and over
3
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; 40 per¬
cent of the 1-person families and 10 percent of the multiperson -families had
)
left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved to Burlington.
Before migration the families had contained 6,800 persons. Of these 72 per¬
cent had migrated to Burlington, and 28 percent had remained at the migrants'
places of origin.
Month of Arrival. Half of the migrants interviewed had come to
Burlington about 6 months before the present survey:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-F ebruary 1941 27
March-April 1941 19
May-June 1S41 21
July-August 1941 19
September 1941 H
October 1941 3
A3687
- 4 -
Industry and Occupation
Before migration to Burlington, the largest single group among
the migrants was made up of construction workers. Important secondary
sources of migrants wore workers from agriculture, trade, "othor" service
industries, and workers who held no job at last residence. The proportion
of migrants who were employed: in manufacturing industries at their last resi¬
dence was notably small. In Burlington, more than half of the migrants were
employed in construction, and nearly one-quarter were engaged in the produc¬
tion of ordnance.
The industrial distribution of migrant workers on their last full-
time jobs at their last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in
Burlington was as follows:
At last In
Industry residence Burlington
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence l/
12
-
Unemployed in Burlington
—
3
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
9
*
Mining
1
*
Construction
42
54
Manufacturing
6
26
Chemicals
2
23
Other
4
3
Transportation, communication, & utilities
5
4
Trade
12
8
Personal service
3
3
Other services
10
2
* Less than 0.5 percent
lj The status of these workers at last residence was as follows: students,
5 percent; unemployed, 5 percent; and housewives, 2 percent.
Both before and after migration, the largest occupational groups
among the Burlington migrants consisted of craftsmen end—unlike most of the
other cities surveyed—unskilled workers. .The principal occupational shifts
A3687
- 5 -
took place among former students, who turned mainly to clerical and unskilled
jots, and among former farm workers, who shifted largely into unskilled work
in Burlington.
She occupational distribution of migrants at last residence and in
Burlington follows:
Occupation At last residence In Burlington
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
.12
-
Unemployed in Burlington
3
Professional and semiprofessional
5
5
Proprietors, managers, and officials
5
2
Clerical and kindred workers
9
12
Craftsmen and kindred workers
28
32
Operatives and kindred workers
12
14
Domestic service workers
1
1
Other service workers
5
8
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
8
*
Laborers, except farm
'15
23
*Less than 0.5 percent
Unemployment
Out of 2,900 migrant workers in Burlington,an estimated 95, or
3 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preccedi:
the survey.
Unemployment "by Sen. Unemployment among made migrants in Burlingto:
had virtually disappeared. The few female migrant workers, however, reported
excessive unemployment. Among the males, 1 percent were unemployed, as com¬
pared with 27 percent for females. More- than three-fourths of the unemployed
workers were females.
Housing
The majority of the migrant families in Burlington had doubled up
with other families, and only about one-fourth occupied separate living
A3687
- 6 -
quarters. A relatively large proportion of the families lived in tourist
and trailer camps.
Living arrangements Total I-uerson faMlies Multi-person families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
24
1
51
Sharing a dwelling with others
63
90
32
In hotels
4
7
*
In tourists and trailer camps
9
2
17
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The rate of recent migration into Burlington is tremendously high,
nearly equaling the rate for Wichita, Kans., and about double the rates for
Port Smith, Ark., and Wichita Palls, Tex., two very active small defense
cities included in this survey. The number of persons who moved to Burlington
during the first year of the defense program is considerably larger than the
city's net popula,tion gain during the half-century between 1890 and 1940.
The recent migration to Burlington ha,s been a notably successful
one, since only 3 percent of tho migrant workers roported unemployment. In
Wichita, on the other hand, 13 percent were unemployed; in Port Smith, 17
percent; and in Wichita Palls, 6 percent.
A considerable part of the Burlington migrants consisted of con¬
struction workers whose stay is temporary. However, the number of migrants
who will remain in the city after the end of construction work at the Iowa
Ordnance Plant and in other more permanent industries will still be relatively
large.
FEDERAL WORKS. AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3699 FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects., Administration
December 16, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Pes Moines, Iowa
A survey of migration into Des Moines, Iowa, was completed early
in November 1941, by the WPA Division of .Research,. The survey was concerned
with civilians who moved to Des Moines from places outside of Polk-County after
October 1, 1940, and who were still living in the. city at the time of the present
survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential dis¬
tricts, lovrcr-priced hotels, and trailer camps within the corporate limits of
Des Moines, Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made
to gather information about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
3etween June 1940 and September 1941, Des Moines received direct
defense contracts valued at about §34,000,000, equal to half the value of all
Des Moines manufactures during 1937, Practically the entire sura of defense
contracts wan allotted for the construction of facilities, and particularly
for a small-arms ordnance plant. This plant was still under construction
at the time of the present survey, employing about 7,000 construction workers,
■Manufacturing in Des Moines enjoyed only a vary minor increase in
activity during the first year of the defense program. Between September 1940
and September 1941, manufacturing employment increased only 4,2 percent, giving
Des Moines 82nd rank among 84 American cities. But insurance and other local
service industries, which play a particularly important part in Des Moines'
economic life, were reported to be active,
Number of Migrants
Approximately 3,200 families living in Des Moines at the time of
A3699
-2-
this survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. These families con¬
tained o,400 workers and a total of 7,700 persons. Migrants made up a group
equal to 4,8 percent of Des Moines' 1940 population.
Origins
The State of Iowa was the origin of 53 percent of the Des Moines
migrants. Missouri was second largest contributor, with 8 percent; Texas
third, with 8 percent; and Illinois fourth, with 5 percent. The average dis¬
tance traveled was 155 miles, but 23 percent of the migrants had traveled 500
miles or more.
Sural places contributed about one-fourth of the migrants; i.e.,
2 percent had come from open country and 22 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 29 percent of the migrants;
small cities, 19 percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 28 percent.
Less than one-fifth (18 percent) of the migrants had formerly lived
in Des Moines, Half of these families had been absent from the city for 3
years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers in the migrant families
was 29.7 years. In 1-person families the average age was 24.1 years, and for
heads of mnltiporson families, 32.5 years. Yorkers under 20 years made up
5 percent of all workers, and those over 45 made up .12 percent.
One—fourth of the migrant workers were women. The average age of
women workers was 23.3 years, as compared, with 32.0 years for men.
Race. Practically all Des Mpines migrants were white; Negroes con¬
stituted less than one-half of 1 percent of the migrants.
A3699
-3-
Size. of Family, When interviewed in Dos Moines, about one-third
of the families consisted of one porson:
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 32
2 persons 25
3 and 4 persons 37
5 persons and over 6
Some of these families were not complete when interviewed; 19 per¬
cent of the 1—person families and 9 percent of the multiperson families had
left a spouse or dependent children "behind when they moved to Des Moines.
Before migration, the families had contained 8,600 persons. Of these, 90 ..per¬
cent had migrated and 10 percent had stayed at the migrants' places of origin.
Month of Arrival. Half of the migrants had come to Des Moines wdthin
about 3 months of the time of the present survey:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-Pebruary 1941. 13
March-April 1941 8
May-June 1941 16
July-August 1941 20
September 1941 18
October 1941 20
Industry and Gccurat ion
Both before and after migration, the most important single industry
was construction, which occupied about one-fifth of the migrants at last resi¬
dence and in Des Moines. Trade and "other" services were each nearly as 'jell
represented as construction, but manufacturing employment was relatively minor.
The principal industrial shift was into finance, insurance, and real estate.
A3699 _4-
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last full-time
jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Des Koines was
as follows:
Industry
Total
No job at last residence _l/
Unemployed in Des Koines
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manuf ac tur i ng
Transportation, communication & Utilities
Trade
finance, insurance, and real estate
Personal services
Other services
♦Loss than 0.5 percent
At last
residence In Des Koines
(Percent distribution)
100
11
5
1
19
13
7
18
3
5
18
100
*
21
14
8
17
9
10
15
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: Students, 7 percent;
housewives, 3 percent; others, 1 percent.
Recent migration to Des Moines was predominantly a movement of white-
collar workers; both before and after migration, a good majority of the migrants
had engaged in professional, proprietory, or clerical work. There were relatively
few craftsmen or operativos among tho migrants, and vory few laborers.
The occupational distribution of the workers before and after migra¬
tion to Des Koines was as follows:
Occupation
At last
residence In Des Moines
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
11
—
Unemployed in Des Moines
—
5
Professional and semiprofessional
15
14
Proprietors, managers, and officials
10
9
Clerical and kindred workers
27
33
Craftsmen and kindred workers
13
13
Cperatives and kindred workers
10
10
13599
-5-
Occupation (Continued)
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
At last
residence
3
4
5
2
In Pes Moines
6
5
Unemployment
Out of 3,400 migrant workers in Des Moines, an estimated 170, or
5 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding this
survey.
Unemployment by Sex. The unemployment rate for female migrant
workers in Des Moines was three times greater than for males. Among female
workers, 9 percent were unemployed, as compared with 3 percent for men.
Unemployment by Age. Workers 20 to 24 years of age reported the
lowest unemployment rate in Des Moines, and those over 45 years reported the
highest rate.
Percent unemployed
Age of worker in Des Moines
Total 5
Under 20 years *
20—24 years 4
25-44 years 5
45 years and over 7
* Base too small for computation.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Migrant workers who had bein
in Des Moines longest reported the highest ■unemployment rates:
Month of arrival' Percent unemployment
Total 5
October 1940-April 1941
May—June 1941
July-August 1941
September-October 1941
7
9
3
3
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Workers from "other"
services fared worst in Des Moines, and lower-than- average unemployment
was reported by workers from construction, transportation, and manufacturing.
A3699
-■6.
Unemployment rates "by industry at last residence follow-:
Industry at
last residence
Total
No job
.Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Mining _
Construction
Manuf ac tuning
Transportation, communication and utilities
Trade
Personal services
Other services
•/ Base too small for computation.
* less than 0.5 percent.
In terms of occupation at last residence, clerical workers
reported the lowest unemployment rate in Bes Moines, and operatives
reported the highest rate. Unemployment by occupation was as follows:
Percent unemployed
in Pes Moines
5
4
J,
'i
3
4
*
5
i
9
Occupation at
last residence
Total
No job
Professional and proprietory
Clerical and kindred- workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic and other service workers
Farm owners," tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
■f Base too small for computation
Percent' unemployed
in Pes Moines
5
4
4
3
7
5
i
i
Housing
The great majority of Pes Koines migrants occupied separate living
quarters when enumerated. About one-third shared a dwolling with other per¬
sons, and a few lived, in tourist and trailer camps.
A3699
-7-
Living arrangements
1-person Multiperson
Total families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling 61
Sharing a dwelling with others 35
9
85
5
1
86
11
In hotels
In tourist and trailer camps
2
2
3
Conclusions
In terms of its population, Des Moines has recently attracted a
large flow of migrants. Its migrant rate exceeds, for example, the rates
reported for such important defense centers as Portland, Me., Baltimore, and
Indianapolis. Unlike all other cities surveyed to date, Des Moines migrants
consist principally of white-collar workers attached to trade and service
industries. The construction job at the Des Moines small-arms ordnance
plant was also an important attraction for Des Moines migrants.
FEDERAL WORKS AG3STCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3544
^FEDERAL WORKS AGE1TCY
WORK PROJECTS ADMIKISTRATION
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Wichita, Kansas
A survey of migration into Wichita, Kansas, one of America's
great now aircraft manufacturing centers, was conducted by the WPA Division
of Research during September 1941. The survey was concerned with persons
who moved to Wichita from places outside of Sftdgewick County after October 1,
1940, and who were still living there in September 1941. Operating on a sample
basis, the survey covered the residential district, lower-priced hotels and
trailer camps within the city limits of Wichita and, in addition, Hilltop
Manor, a Defense Housing project outside the city limits. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed and no attempt was made to gather information about
persons who had left Wichita during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Wichita stands beside San Diego as one of the "hottest" defense
boom cities in America. In August 1941, Wichita's index of manufacturing
employment reached the extraordinary figure of 324.4 (1937 average - 100),
second only to San Diego. Between August 1940 and August 1941, manufacturing
employment in Wichita increased 167.7 percent, the highest in the country.
Between October 1, 1940 and September 1941 (i.e., during the period covered
by the present migration survey) employment in Wichita aircraft plants rose
from 3,500 to 14,500 or a more than four-fold increase within slightly less
than 12 months.
These figures reflect a spectacular transformation of the city.
A year ago Wichita was predominantly a farm service city with only a few small
A3544
« 2 -
manufacturing industries. Today, after "being awarded $368,000,000 in direct
defense contracts, it has suddenly become one of the Nation's important air¬
craft production centers.
Number of Migrants
This activity has brought a tremendous wave of migrants into Wichita.
Approximately 12,800 families living in the corporate limits of Wichita 1J in
September 1941 had moved from outside Sedgwick County after October 1, 1940.
These families contained 13,000 workers. The total number of persons present
in the migrant families was 23,000, equal to 20.0 percent of Wichita's 1940
population. In terms of its population, Wichita has attracted during the past
year six times more migration than Baltimore and twenty times more than Phila¬
delphia, even though both these latter cities are themselves important defense
centers.
Origins
Wichita migrants were drawn from near at hand. The majority of
the migrants (54 percent) came from Kansas. Oklahoma was the second most
important source, contributing 18 percent; Missouri was third with 9 percent;
and Iowa fourth with 3 percent. The average distance traveled by Wichita
migrants was approximately 135 miles; and only 7 percent had traveled 500
miles or more.
Sural places, i.e., places of less than 2,500 population, were the
source of more than two-fifths of the migrants; 10 percent had come from the
1/ In Hilltop Manor, outside the Wichita city limits, the survey found an
additional 230 migrant families containing 880 migrant persons.
A3544
- 3 -
open country, and 32 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000
population) contributed 38 percent; small cities, 9 percent; and 11 percent
had come from cities of more than 100,000 population.
A very large proportion of the migrants had come to Wichita for
the first time; 89 percent reported no prior residence in Wichita, and only
11 percent reported having lived in Wichita before. Among former Wichita
residents, about half had been absent for 3 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all migrant workers was 24.9 years.
(In other survey cities, the average age was as follows; Greenville, S.C.,
26.0 years; Baltimore, 27.5 years; and Philadelphia, 29.7 years.) In 1-person
families the average age was 23.0 years; and for heads of multi-person families,
29.0 years. One migrant worker in approximately 7 was under 20 years of age,
but only 1 in 16 was 45 years and over.
Women workers constituted 13 percent of all workers in the migrant
families. (Comparative figures for other survey cities are: Baltimore, 10
percent; Greenville, S. C., 28 percent; and Philadelphia, 22 percent.)
Race. Practically all of the migrants were white. Negroes made up
2 percent of the migrant workers, and white persons made up 98 percent.
Size of Pamjly. When interviewed in Wichita, more than half of the
migrant families contained only one person:
Size of family in Wichita Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 56
2 persons 22
3 and 4 persons 19
5 persons and over 3
A3544
- 4-
Most of these families were complete. Only 5 percent of the multi-
person families, and 10 percent of the 1-person families, had left a spouse or
dependent children behind when they moved to Wichita. Before migration, the
families contained 24,800 persons. Of these, 23,000 had migrated and 1,800
»
had remained at the migrants' places of origin.
Months livod in County. The distribution of the migrants according
to the time of their arrival in Wichita was as follows:
Month of Arrival Percent of Wichita Migrants
Total 100
October 1940-January 1941 17
Pebruary-March 1941 13
April-May 1941 20
June 1941 14
July 1941 14
August 1941 13
September* 1941 9
* The survey was conducted during September; hence this figure does not
represent totdl in-migration during the month.
Industry and Occupation
Wichita migrants were drawn mainly from farming, trade, "other"
service industries, and from students who \irere not in the labor market at
their previous residences. These four groups supplied two-thirds of the
migrant workers. Manufacturing industries contributed only 10 percent of
the migrants.
In Wichita, aircraft manufacturing, of course, became the predomi¬
nant industry for the migrants, absorbing 52 percent of all the workers. But
for every migrant worker who had found a job in the aircraft factories, there
was another migrant worker in Wichita who was either working in another
industry or was unemployed.
The industrial distribution of Wichita migrants on their last full-
tine job at their last place of residence, and on their jobs in Wichita, was
A3544
- 5 -
as follows*
At last In
Industry residence Wichita
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
23
—
Unemployed in Wichita
—
13
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
19
*
Mining
3
1
Construction
7
5
Manufacturing
10
56
Transport at ion equipment
3
52
Other
7
4
Transportation, communication, end
public utilities
4
3
Trade
17
13
Personal services
4
3
Other services
13
5
*Less than 0.5 percent
1/The status at last residence of these workers was: Students,
18 percent; housewives, 1 percent; unemployed, 4 percent.
The occupational distribution of the migrant workers before and
after migration was as follows:
At last In
Occupation resj dence Wichita,
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
23
—
Unemployed in ¥ichita
-
13
Professional and samiprofessional
4
3
Proprietors, managers, and officialc
5
2
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
JLO
11
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
15
30
Operatives ana kindred workers
13
30
Domestic service workers
1
2
Other'service workers
4
6
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
18
*
Laborers, except farm
4
3
*Less than 0,5 percent.
Wichita drew only about one-fourth of its migrant workers from
among craftsmen and operatives, but it provided 60 percent of the migrants
A3544 - 6 -
with craftsmen's and operatives' jobs. The greater part of these newly
skilled and unskilled workers were recruited from the ranks of the farn
workers and students. A very snail proportion of the migrants held unskilled
jobs in Wichita.
Unemployment
Out of 13,230 migrant workers in Wichita and Hilltop Manor, about
1,680, or 13 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar
week prior to interview. The comparable unemployment figures for other
recently surveyed cities are: Baltimore, 3 percent; Greenville, S. 0., 9
percent; and Philadelphia, 8 percent.
Unemployment by Sex. Women workers among the migrants reported
about twice the unemployment rate of the men. Among the women, 23 percent
were unemployed; among the men, 11 percent x*rere unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. The youngest workers reported especially
high rates of unemployment. Among migrant workers under 25 years, 19 per¬
cent were unemployed, as against 7 percent for the age group 25 to 44, and
9 percent for those over 45. Among the very young, the difference was still
greater; out of the 1,950 migrant workers who were under 20 years of age 30
percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by'Size of Place of Origin. The highest unemployment
rate (19 percent) was reported by workers from the open country. As the size
of place of origin increased, unemployment decreased consistently; and the
lowest rate (4 percent) was reported for migrants from large cities.
A3544
- 7 -
Size of "place of origin Percent unemployed in Wichita
Total 13
Open country 19
Rural villages (less than 2,500) 14
Towns (2,500 to 25,000) 13
Small cities (25,000 to 100,000) 9
Large cities (over 100,000) 4
Unemployment by Distance Traveled. Unemployment tended to increase
with, the distance traveled by the migrants, with the one exception that the
few workers who traveled more than 1,000 miles to Wichita (principally made
up of aircraft workers from California) reported relatively little unemployment.
Distance traveled Percent unemployed in Wichita
Total 13
Less than 100 miles 11
100-199 miles 13
200-499 miles 15
500-999 miles 18
1,000 railes and over 6
Unemployment "by Month of Entering County. Wichita migrants reported
an extraordinary difference in unemployment rates according to the duration
of their stay in Sedgwick County:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Wichita
Total 13
October 1940-January 1941 2
February-March 1941 4
April-May 1941 5
June 1941 10
July 1941 17
August 1941 25
September 1941 44
Prom the evidence shoiim in this table, there can be no doubt that
during the four months preceding this survey Wichita's new industries had
been attracting far more migrant workers than they could currently absorb.
A3544
- 8 -
Unemployment "by Industry and Occu'cation. Exceptionally high unem¬
ployment rates were reported by workers who held no job at their last residence
(particularly the students and housewives), and by workers from agriculture
and the personal service industries. Workers from the construction and manu¬
facturing industries reported relatively little unemployment in Wichita. Workers
who had been unemployed or on WPA at their last residence showed about the
average rate of unemployment in Wichita. Unemployment rates by industry at
last residence follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unem-ployed in Wjchita
Total 13
No job 20
Students 20
Housewives 30
Unemployed 14
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 18
Mining "7
Construction 2
Manufacturing 5
transportation, communication, and public utilities 10
trade 11
Personal services 25
Other services 9
ported by two of the unskilled groups, farm workers and domestic service
workers. Unemployment among operatives was about average, and among crafts¬
men it was very slight. Unemployment rates according to last occupation were
as follows:
In terms of occupation, the highest unemployment rates were re-
Qccupatirm at last residence
Percent unom-oloyed in Wiohitr
Total
13
No job
20
Professional, proprietory, and clerical
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service i^orkers
Other service workers
farm owners, tenants, and laborers
laborers except farm
7
4
11
31
11
19
11
A3544 - 9 -
Housing
About two-thirds of the migrant families were sharing a dwelling
unit with other persons xirhen interviewed in Wichita; 5 percent were living in
hotels, and considerably less than one-third of the families occupied a
separate dwelling unit. A small number of families lived in trailers.
Living arrangements Total l-'oerson families Multi-person families
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying separate dwelling
29
6
59
Sharing dwelling
66
87
39
In hotels
5
7
1
In trailers
*
*
1
* Less than 0.5 percent
Conclusions
The rate of recent migration into Wichita has reached spectacular
proportions, surpassing many times over the rate for .-any other city covered
to date by this survey. At the time of the present survey, hox^ever, the movement
was running ahead of itself. Workers were arriving in Wichita faster than they
could be absorbed into the local industries; and a redundant supply of migrant
workers—heavily weighted with job seekers under 20 years of age—had accumu¬
lated within the local labor market.
FEDERAL WORKS AGEWCY
Work Projects Administration
A3689&
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 15, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Portland and South Portland. Maine
A survey of migration into Portland and South Portland, Maine, was
conducted "by the WPA Division of Research during the early part of October
1941, The survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Portland, "and South
Portland from places outside of Cumberland County after October 1, 1940 and
who were still living there in September 1941, Operating on a sample basis,
the survey covered residential districts and lower priced hotels within the
city limits of Portland and South Portland, Higher priced hotels were not
surveyed and no attempt was made to gather information about -persons who had
!
left the cities during the year covered bjr the survey.
Industrial Activity
Up to the time of th'e present survey, defense work in Portland and
South Portland was devoted largely to the preparation of facilities for lat'er
activity,' One large shipyard had been built, and the construction of seven
cargo vessels began, A second large shipyard was still under-construction,
A Navy dry dock had been built and dredging of Portland Harbor was' under -way,
Portland anticipated that this activity would eventually create 9,000
new jobs, but according to local estimates, only 2,500 of these jobs had been
created by the time of the migration survey. And although labor shortages were
reported for many skilled categories, such as welders, shipfitters, and layout
men, no general labor shortage had developed.
A3689a
-2-
Number of Migrants
Approximately 1,600 families, containing 1,700 workers and 4,000
persons, moved to Portland and South Portland from places outside of Cumber¬
land County after October 1, 1940, and wore still living there in September
1941. The total number of migrants was equal to 4.5. percent of the total popu¬
lation of the two cities. Approximately 3,200 of these migrants lived in the
City of Portland and 800 lived in South Portland. Based on 1940 population
the migrant rate for Portland was 4.4, percent, and for South Portland, 5.1
percent.
Origins
The majority of migrants (60" percent) came from Maine. Massachusetts
was the second most important source of migrant workers, contributing 18 per¬
cent. New York and New Hampshire each contributed 3 percent. The average
distance traveled by migrant workers was 100 miles; and only 7 percent had
traveled 500 miles or more.
Towns (places of 2,500 to 25,000 population) were the origin of the
largest proportion of the migrants, 38 percent. Rural places (places under
2,500 population) contributed the next largest proportion, 31 percent, of which
8 percent were from open country and 23 percent from rural villages. Small cities
" 4
contributed 15 percent; and 16 percent had come from cities of more than 100,000
T
population.
Only 15 percent of the families reported previous residence in either
of the two cities. Among these former residents, about one-half had boon
absent for 5 years or more.
A3639a
~3~
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all migrant workers was relatively
high, 32.3 years. In other survey cities the averages ranged, from 2S.0 years
in Greenville, S.C., to 32,8 years in Port Smith,'- Arkansas, The average age
of family heads was 34,1 and of unattached workers 29,6, Qnly 6 percent of
the migrant workers were under 20 years of age, "but 18. percent were 45 years
and over.
Women workers constituted 15 percent of all workers in the migrant
families. The average- age of women workers was 26,9 years, as against 33.0
years for men.
Race. Practically all of the migrants were white. Negroes made up-
less than one-half of one percent of all migrants.
Size of Family. Only one-third of the families, when Interviewed
in Portland and South Portland, were composed of one person.
Size of- Family in Portland and South Portland Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 33
2 persons 25
3 and 4 persons 33
5 persons and over 9
Some of these families were not complete; 15 percent of the 1—person
families and 6 percent of the multiperson families had left a family member
behind when they moved to Portland and South Portland. Before migration the
families -contained 4,500 persons, of whom 10 percent stayed behind and 90 percent
migrated.
Months Lived in County. The majority of the migrants had come to
Cumberland County within 3 months of the time of the migration survey.
A3689a
—4-
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total
10.0
October 1940-Jeumary 1941 11
February-March 1941 9
April-May 1941 16>
June 1941 13
July 1941 14
August 1941 20
September 1941 17
Industry and Occupation
Portland migrant*" workers were drawn mainly from construction, trade,
noiher,r services, and from manufacturing, which contributed about one—fifth
of the migrants.
In Portland, ship building and repairing, of course, became the pre¬
dominant industry of the migrant workers; one»third of all migrant workers
i *
(34 percent) were employed* at shipbuilding at the time of the survey. But for
every migrant worker who had found a job in the Portland shipyards, there were
two other migrants working in other industries or still seeking work. The
industrial distribution of Portland migrants at their last residence, and on
their jobs in Portland was as follows:
Industr?/ At last residence In Portland
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last.residence 1/
11
Unemployed in Portland
5
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
5
1
Mining
*
*
Construction
16
12
Manufacturing
26
44
Ship and boat building and repairing
8
34
Lumber, furniture and lumber products
7
*
•Other
11
10
Transportation, communication and public
utilities
6
6
Trade
19
19
Personal services
3
3
Other services
14
10
* Less than 0.5 percent
2J The status of those workers at last residence was: students, 5 percent;
housewives, 3 percent; unemployed, 2 percent; and others, 1 percent.
A3689a
~5~
Over half of :;tho migrant workore in Portland wore employed as
skilled or somiskillod workors, Pointier farm xrorkors and workers who had no
jobs at thoir last residence wero the most important nex\r source of the skilled
and somiskillod workers in Portland^ The distribution of migrants by occupy
tion at their last residence and in Portland is as folloxtfs:
Occupation At last residence In Portland
(Percent distribution)
lotal 100 100
Ko job at la.st residence 11 -
Unemployed in Portland - 5
Professional and sOmiprofessional 8 8
Proprietors, managers,, and officials 8 7
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers 14 15
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 24 29
Operatives and kindred workers 16 22
Domestic service workers 1 1
Other service workers 5 .'5
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers 4 *
Laborers, except farm 9 8
* Less than 0,5 percent,
Unomolornnont
Migrant workers by and largo were successful in obtaining jobs in
Portland, Only a few, 5 percent of all workers, were still seeking work when
enumerated. Comparable figures for other survey cities are;. Baltimore, Md,,
3 percent; Greenville, S.C,, 9 porcent; Philadelphia, Pa*; 8 percent; and
Wichita, Kansas, 13-percent,
Un'eikolo'yroent b^'vSex. .The. unemployment rhtenfqr women' workers was
more-'then'four times as high as for men. Among women "migrants 14 percent
were -unemployed, and among men 3' percent,
Unon-olormcnt by1 Age. 'The youngest workers reported the-, highest
unemployment rate in Portland, and workers over 45 years..'reported. the lowest
rate;
A3689a
-6-
Percent unemployed
A^o of workers In Portland
Total 5
Under 20 years 14
20—24 years g
25-44 years 4
45 years and over 2
Unemployment fry Size of Place of Origin. The highest unemployment
rate, (ll percent) was reported "by migrants from cities of 25,000 to 100,000.
Migrants from small towns and large cities "both reported belcw-average unem¬
ployment. Those from rural places had an average unemployment rate.
Percent unemployed
Size of place of origin in Portland.
Total 5
Sural places 5
2,500 to 25,000 3
25,000 to 100,000 11
100,000 and over 4
Unemployment "by Month Entering County. Migrants who arrived recently
in Portland had the highest unemployment rates.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Portland
Total 5
October 1940-March 1941 3
.April-May 1941 1
June 1941 2
July 1941 5
August 1941 6
September 1941 12
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Above average uncmploy—
v *
ment rates wore reported by workers from agriculture, forestry, and fishing an&
from trade. Workers from transportation and communication industries, from
mining, and personal services roportod exceptionally low rates of unemployment,
Unemplojment rates by industry of migrant workers wore as follows:
A3689a
-7-
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Portland
Total 5
No job 4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 9
Mining /'
Construction 3
Manufacturing 4
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 9
Personal services 1
Other services 2
■f Base too small for calculation
* Less than 0.5 percent
In terms of occupation, domestics, farm workers, non-farm laborers,
and operatives reported higher than average unemployment rates. There were
practically no unemployed white-collar or skilled migrants in Portland, Unem¬
ployment rates according to last occupation were as follows:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Portland
Total 5
No job 4
Professional, proprietory, and clerical *
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers *
Operatives and kindred workers 8
Domestic service workers 35
Other service workers 10
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers 10
Laborers, except farm 9
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
Over half of the migrant families were sharing a dwelling-unit
with other persons when interviewed; 2 percent \-rere living in hotels and 47
percent occupied a separate dwelling unit, A small number of families were
living in trailer or tourist camps.
A3689a
-8-
1-person
Multiperson
ItiYing flffraafleiwplfP
Total
families
families
Total
100
100
100
Occupying separate dwelling
47
'4
69
Sharing dwelling
51
91
31
In hotels
2
5
*
In ^trailers and tourist camps
•
*
♦
* Less than-0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The greater part of Portland's defense activity had not yet developed
at the time of the present survey. Even so, Portland and South Portland, in
terms of their population, had already attracted a moderately large flow of
migrants "by October 1941. These migrants had been by and large successful,
and had been absorbed into the local industries—particularly into shipbuilding—
without great difficulty.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration.
Division of Research
A3548
IjEMORAJSTDOM
A survey of migration into Baltimore, Maryland, was completed
by the 1VPA Division of Research during the early part of September 1941.
The survey was concerned with persons who moved to Baltimore from places
outside of Baltimore City and Baltimore County after October 1, 1940, and
who were still living in the survey area in September 1941. The survey
was confined to the city of Baltimore and to the C-lenn L. Martin Camp, which
is located northeast of the Baltimore city limits. Higher-priced hotels
were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about per¬
sons who had left Baltimore during the survey period.
Industrie.! Activity
Baltimore is one of the more important American defense centers.
Between June 1940 and August 1941 the city received prime defense contracts
amounting to nearly half a billion dollars, principally for aircraft manufactur¬
ing and ship building. Direct defense activity alone has absorbed about 23,000
workers since October 1, 194-0, according to local reports, and several thousand
more new jobs s.re reported in subsidiary and service industries. Between July
1940 and July 1941, Baltimore manufacturing employment rose 32.9 percent; and
Baltimore ranked 36th among the 93 cities of over 100,000 population in the -oro-
portionate increa.se in manufacturing employment during the period.
Many months ago Baltimore reported acute shortages of several types
of craftsmen, particularly those needed in the shipbuilding industry. At
the time of this survey, however, no shortage of local unskilled workers had
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
November 14, 1941
Recent Migration into Baltimore. Maryland
developed, except in the aircraft industry, where severe age and race employ¬
ment restrictions have prevented the full use of locally available labor.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 15,700 families living in the city of Baltimore in
early September 1941 had moved from outside of Baltimore County after October 1,
1940. These families contained 16,600 workers. The total number of persons
contained in the migrant families was 30,500, equal to 3.6 percent of Balti¬
more's 1940 population. At the Glenn L, Martin camp outside the Baltimore
city limits, the survey found an additional group of 160 migrant families
containing 450 persons.
Origins
The principal origins of the Baltimore migrants were Philadelphia,
Hew York City, and rural places in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and
North Carolina. The State of Pennsylvania contributed 23 percent of the
workers; Maryland, 15 percent; New York and Virginia, 10 percent each; West
Virginia 8 percent; and North Carolina, 7 percent. The average distance
traveled was 170 miles. One worker in 8 had traveled more than 500 miles;
and 1 in 200 had come from a foreign country.
Rural places, i.e., places of less than 2,500 population, were the
source of 32 percent of the Baltimore migrants; 7 percent ha.d come from the
open country end 25 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 pop¬
ulation) contributed 25 percent; small cities, 18 percent, and 25 percent
came from cities of over 100,000 population.
An exceptionally large proportion of the migrants ha.d come to
Baltimore for the first time; 92 percent reported no prior residence in
A3548
-3-
Baltimore, and 8 percent reported having lived in Baltimore "before. Among
the former Baltimore residents, about half had been absent for 6 years or
more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all migrant workers was 27.5 years.
In 1-person families, the average age vj&s 24.6 years; and for heads of multi-
person families, 32.6 years. One migrant worker in 9 was 45 years of a.ge or
over.
Women workers constituted 10 percent of all workers in the migrant
families. (Comparative figures for other survey cities are: Detroit, 16 per¬
cent; Greenville, S.C., 28 percent; and Philadelphia, 22 percent.)
Race. Negroes constituted 11 percent of the migrant workers. Negro
migrants made up a group equal to 2.2 percent of Baltimore's 1940 Negro popu¬
lation, considerably less than for white migrants, who equalled 3.9 percent
of the 1940 white population.
Size of Family. When interviewed in Baltimore, the majority of
the migrant families contained only one person:
Size of Family in Baltimore Percent Distribution
Total 100
1 person 56
2 persons 19
3 and 4 persons 18
5 persons and over 7
In a large number of instances, however, these families were not
complete. Nearly half of the 1-person families, and one-tenth of the multi-
person families, had left their spouse or dependent children behind when they
A3548
-4~
moved to Baltimore. Before migration, the families had contained 42,300
persons. Of these, 30,500 had migrated hut 11,800 had remained at the
migrant's places of origin.
Months hived in County, The tempo of migration into Baltimore has
shown a substantial increase in recent months. At the end of 1940, about 600
migrant workers were being added to the Baltimore labor supply each month.
Early in 1941, the influx reached 1,000 workers a month; and since May it has
averaged 2,500 workers a month, JJ
Month of arrival Percent of Baltimore migrants
Total 100
October - December 1940 12
January - February 1941 12
March — April 1941 12
May — June 1941 33
July 1941 15
August 194-1* 16
*Includes the first week of September 1941.
Industry and Occupation
The industrial distribution of Baltimore migrant workers on
their last full-time jobs at their last places of residence, and on their
jobs in Baltimore, was as follows:
1/ These figures assume little or no "turnover" among the migrants
A3548
-5~
Indus try
At last
rosidonce In Baltimore
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence JL./
18
_
Unemployed in Baltimore
3
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
15
*
Mining
5
*
Constraction
12
8
Manufacturing
16
58
Transportation equipment
5
39
Iron and steel
2
7
Other
9
12
Transportation, communication, and utilities
7
6
Trade
15
12
Personal services
2
2
Other services
10
11
*Less than 0.5 percent
1 / The status at last residence of these workers was: students, 7 percent;
housewives, 2 percent; unemployed, 7 percent; others, 2 percent.
This table reveals an extremely sharp industrial shift among the
migrants. Baltimore manufacturing industries, particularly the shipyards
and aircraft factories, had attracted only a few migrant workers formerly
engaged in manufacturing, but had attracted thousands of migrant farmers,
miners, construction workers, students, unemployed workers, and even trades¬
people.
The occupational distribution of the migrant workers before and
after migration was as follows:
Occupation
Total
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Baltimore
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
(continued on next page)
At last
residence In Ba.Itimore
(Percent distribution)
100 100
18
3
5
10
3
3
16
A3548
-6-
Occupation (Continued.)
Croftsmen, foremen, and kindred, workers
Operatives end kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
*Lcss thou 0.5 percent.
Unskilled workers formed a relatively large proportion of Balti¬
more migrants. Before migration, 30 percent of the workers held unskilled
jobs, and 24 percent of the migrants still held unskilled jobs in Baltimore.
While the proportion of unskilled workers decreased, however, the proportion
of clerical, skilled, and semi-skilled workers increased. Only 44 percent of
the workers were drawn from these three categories, but 67 percent held jobs
in these categories in Baltimore.
Unemployment
Out of the 16,650 migrant workers in Baltimore, 580, or 3 percent,
were unemployed and seeking work at the time of the survey. Comparative
figures for other survey cities are: Fort Wayne, Ind., (May), 3 percent;
Detroit (May), 10 percent; Greenville, S. C., (September) 9 percent; and
Philadelphia (September), 8 percent.
Unemployment by Race. The rate of unemployment for Negro workers
who had migrated to Baltimore was more than five times greater than the rate
for white migrant workers. Among Negroes, 11 percent, and among white workers,
2 percent, were unemployed.
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrants to Baltimore had more than six
times the unemployment rate of men. Among the women workers, 13 percent were
unemployed; among the men, 2 percent.
At last
residence In Baltimore
(Percent distribution)
17
28
17
23
1
1
5
4
13
*
11
19
A3548
-7-
Unemployment "by Age. No single age group among the Baltimore
migrants had suffered high unemployment, although the very young and the
very old showed a slightly higher-than-average unemployment rate. Under 25
years, 5 percent were unemployed; "between 25 and 44, the rate was 2 percent;
and among the workers 45 and over, the rate was 4 percent.
Unemployment by Distance Traveled. The migrants who traveled the
shortest distance reported the lowest unemployment rate. Among the few who
came from foreign countries, two-thirds were unemployed.
Distance traveled Percent of workers unemployed
Total 10
Less than 200 miles 2
200 to 499 miles 5
500 to 999 miles 7
1,000 miles and over 5
Foreign 66
Unemployment by Month of Entering County. Baltimore migrants \tfho
had arrived during the month immediately preceding enumeration showed an
unemployment rate more than three times higher than the average for all
migrants. Among the migrants who had been in the city longest, however the
unemployment rate was only slightly below average.
Month of entering county Percent of workers unemployed
Total 3
October 1940 - May 1941 2
May - June 1941 3
July 1941 1
August 1941 1J 10
1/ Includes the first week of September 1941.
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. There was little dif¬
ference in the unemployment rates of Baltimore migrants according to their
industry at last place of residence. Only the vrorkers from personal service
industries reported an unemplojrment rate far above average:
A3548
-8-
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Baltimore
Total 3
Ho job 5
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2
Mining 4
Construction 3
Manufacturing 3
Transportation and communication 3
Trade 3
Personal services 10
Other services 3
Unemployment rates according to occupation were as follows:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Baltimore
Total 3
Ho job 5
Professional, proprietory , and clerical 4
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 1
Operatives and kindred workers 3
Domestic service workers 17
Other service workers 5
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 2
Laborers, except farm ' 3
This distribution reveals one notably low rate and one notably
high. Baltimore migrants who held skilled jobs at their last residence re¬
ported virtually no unemployment, while migrant domestic service workers showed
a rate nearly six times higher than average.
Housing
Less than one-third of the Baltimore migrant families were occupying
a separate dwelling when enumerated; the great majority had doubled up with
other families. One percent of the migrants lived in hotels, and one percent
in trailers.
A3548
9-
Living arrangements
Total 1-person families Multiperson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying separate dwelling 30
Sharing dwelling
In hotels
In trailers
68
1
1
6
92
2
58
40
2
Conclusions
After a slow start late in 1940, migration into Baltimore began
increasing in the early spring; and by late summer it had reached signifi¬
cant volume. There is little doubt that Baltimore is now growing more
rapidly than at any time since the world war.
this movement has been a successful one, even though several groups of
migrants—particularly women workers and Negroes—-have not fared as well as
others. The rate of migration was consistantly lower, however, for the
less successful groups than for types of workers most in demand.
Judged in terms of the Baltimore migrants' unemployment rates,
EEDEEAL WOPJCS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
A3985
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 14, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent migration into Brockton, Massachusetts
A survey of migration into Brockton, Massachusetts was completed
during the early part of November 1941. The survey was concerned with civilians
who moved to Brockton from places outside of Plymouth County after October 1,
1340 and who were still living there when this survey was conducted. Operating
on a sample basis the survey covered the residential districts and lower
priced hotels within the corporate limits of the city. Higher priced hotels
were not covered and no attempt was made to gather information about persons
who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and October 1941 Plymouth County received approxi¬
mately $18,000,000 in prime defense contracts, equal to nearly one-fourth of
the 1937 product value of manufactures in the county. There were, however, no
shortages reported in the Brockton labor market at the time of this survey;
according to local reports, increases in unemployment due to priorities were
expected.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 450 families, containing 450 workers and a total of
1,200 persons, living within the corporate limits of Brockton at the time
of this survey had moved to the city from places outside Plymouth County
after October 1, 1940. Migrants made up a group equal to 1.8 percent of the
1940 population of the city.
Origins
Massachusetts contributed by far the largest proportion, 82 percent,
of the migrants. Next in importance were Maine, contributing 5 percent, and
New Hampshire with 4 percent. The average distance traveled by migrants was
58 miles; and only 1 percent traveled 500 miles or more.
One-fourth of the mig'rants (25 percent) moved from large cities
(lOO.OOO population or over); and one-fifth (19 percent) had come from small
cities (25,000-100,000 population). Towns (2,500-25,000) contributed 37
percent of the migrants. Nineteen percent came from rural villages, and less
than one-half of one percent came from open country.
Former residents of Brocktoacomprised an unusually large proportion
(43 percent) of the migrant families. About half of these returning residents
had been absent from the city for 3 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The averagea ge of migrant workers was 31.1 years.
In one person families the average was 28.4 years and for heads of multiperson
A3985
- 2 -
families it was 33.8 years. Less than one percent of the workers were under
20 years of age and 24 percent were 45 years of age or older.
Women workers comprised 21 percent of the migrant labor force. The
average age of women workers was 29.0 years, as compared with 31.9 years for
men.
Race. Negroes constituted less than one half of one percent of
the migrants.
Size of Family. The average size of the migrant families was 2.6
persons. One person families comprised only one-fourth of the migrants.
Size of family in Brockton Percont distribution
Total 100
1 person 24
2 persons 31
3 and 4 persons 35
5 persons or more 10
A few of the migrant families were incomplete when interviewed;
22 percent of the 1-person families and 8 percent of the multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children at their last residences. Before
migration the families contained 480 persons, of whom 96 percent had migrated
and 4 percent had stayed at the families' last residences.
Month of Arrival. Half of the workers migrated to Brockton during
or before June 1941.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-March 1941 18
April-May 1941 11
June-July 1941 20
August 1941 13
September 1941 4
October 1941 21
November 1941 1/ 13
1J Does not include the entire month.
Industry and Occupation
Manufacturing was the largest single industrial group among the
migrants, and trade was second both before migration and in Brockton. Very
few migrants had been engaged in agriculture at their last residence, and
unlike migrants in the other cities surveyed, relatively few workers
engaged in personal and "other" services.
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last full-time
jobs at last residence and on their jobs in Brockton was as follows:
A3895
- 3 -
Industry
Total
No jol at last residence 1,/
Unemployed in Brockton
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Leather and leather products
Iron and steel
Other
Transportation, communication and
utilities
Trade
Personal services
Other services
At last residence In Brockton
(Percent distribution)
100 100
10
-
-
3
2
2
*
*
5
6
35
50
13
16
1
8
22
26
5
4
30
28
5
2
7
5
* Less than 0.5 percent
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students
4 percent; housewives, 3 percent; unemployed, 3 percent.
As in the other cities surveyed, white-collar workers had a
large representation among the migrants. There were also a large number
of operatives, particularly after migration. Unskilled workers made up
only a very small proportion of the workers.
The occupations of migrant xirorkers at their last residence and in
Brockton are shown below:
Occupation
Total
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Brockton
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
At last residence In Brockton
(Percent distribution)
100
100
\
10
-
-
3
7
6
6
7
18
18
17
17
24
33
2
1
7
5
2
3
7
6
A3985
- 4 -
Unemployment
Of the estimated 450 workers in Brockton, only 15, or 3 percent,
were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview.
Most of these unemployed workers were either professional or domestic service
woikors at their last residence.
Housing
Over two-thirds of the migrant families were occupying a separate
duelling unit in "Brockton; one-fourth were sharing a dwelling with other
persons; and a few unattached persons were living in hotels.
L-ving arrangements Total 1--person families Multi'oerson families
Total
100
100
100
Occupying
a separate dwelling
72
24
86
Slarvwg a
dwelling with others
25
64
14
In hotels
3
12
-
Conclusions
Both the volume and rate of migration into Brockton during the
period covered by this survey were low; only 4 of the 51 cities recently
surveyed showed a lower migrant rate. There were very few unemployed among
the migrants.
FEDERAL WORKS AOEITCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A39b6
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 11, 19^2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Battle Creek, Michigan
A survey of migration into Battle Creek, llichigan, was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during the latter part of November 191.1 •
The survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Battle Creek from places
outside of Calhoun County after October 1, 19l0, and who were still living
there when this survey vra.s conducted. Operating on a sample basis, the survey
covered the residential districts and lower priced hotels within the corporate
limits of Battle Creek. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt
was made to gather information about persons who left the city during the survey
period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 191.0 and November 19ll, Calhoun County received direct
defense contracts valued at about 026,000,000. Nearly half of this sum was
allotted for construction work at Fort Custer, which had employed about 1,700
workers at the peak. At the time of this survey, this job was virtually com¬
pleted, and the majority of the migrant construction workers had departed
for other jobs. Increased activity in steel-goods manufacture during the first
year of the defense program created a number of new jobs in the community.
According to local reports, however, there were a considerable number of resi¬
dent unemployed remaining in the city at the time of this survey.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 1,000 families, containing 1,000 workers and a total
of 2,300 persons, living within the corporate limits of Battle Creek at the
time of this survey, had moved to the city from places outside of Calhoun
County after October 1, 19l0, Migrants made up a group equal to 9.1 percent
of the 19U0 population of the city.
Origins
Michigan was the most important source of the migrants, contributing
9l percent. Illinois was second, -with 12 percent, and Tennessee was third -with
7 percent. Six percent had come from Wisconsin, 9 percent from Ohio, and 1
percent from Indiana. The average distance traveled by migrants was 129 miles.
Only 11 percent of the migrants had .'traveled 900 miies or more.
Rural places were the origin of nearly a third of the migrant workers;
i.e., 9 percent came from open country and 22 percent from rural villages. One-
fourth (29 percent) of the migrants came from towns (2,900 to 29,000 population;)
21 percent from small cities, and 23 percent came from cities of 100,000
population or over.
More than one-fourth (28' percent) of the migrant families had formerly
lived in Battle Creek. About half of these former residents had been away from
the city for 9 years or more before their return.
A3?li6
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 29.2 years.
For one-person famines, the average was 2U.0 years, and for heads of multi-
person families 32,3 :/-ears. Workers under 20 years of age comprised 11 percent
of the migrant workers and those U5 years or over, 12 percent.
Women workers made up 20 percent of all migrant workers in Battle
Creek. The average age of women workers was 25.6 years, as compared with 29.8
years for men.
hace_. Seven percent of the migrant persons in Battle Creek were
Negro, white persons made up the remaining 93 percent.
Size of Family. Migrant families averaged 2.3 persons per family
•■Mien interviewed in Battle Creek.
Size of family in Battle Creek Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person JLj.2
2 persons 21
3 and h persons 29
5 persons or more 8
Host of the migrant families were complete units when interviewed;
however lk percent of the one-person families and 3 percent of the multiperson
families left a spouse or dependent children at their last residences. Before
migration the families contained 2,500 persons, of whom 95 percent moved to
Battle Creek and 5 percent remained at the migrants' previous residences.
Month of arrival. Half of the migrants arrived in Battle Creek prior
to August Iplii. Only a few, 2 percent, came during the month in which they were
interviewed.
Z-onth of Arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19U0-I arch 19kl 18
April-"-ay 19kl 12
June-July 19kl 21
August-September 19kl 29
October 19kl 18
November 19k-l 2
Industry and Occupation
No one industry predominated among the migrant workers at their last
residences. Manufacturing, trade, and "other" service industries each contributed
about one-fifth of the workers. Agricultural workers and those with no jobs at
their last residence contributed a relatively large proportion of the migrants.
In Battle Creek manufacturing absorbed two-fifths of the migrants. The more im¬
portant manufacturing industries in which migrants found jobs were iron and steel
A39U6
- 3 -
and machinery. Few migrants were employed in the food industries. One-fifth
of the migrants were employed in "other" service industries (finance, insurance,
and real estate; business and repair services; amusement, recreation, and
related-services; government work, etc.) Trade absorbed nearly one-fifth of
the migrants.
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last full-time
jobs at their last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Battle
Creek was as follows:
Industry At last residence In Battle Creek
(Percent distributioriy
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/ l]j.
Unemployed in Battle Creek" - 3
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 12
Mining 1 *
Construction 3 Jj.
Manufacturing 19 39
Food. ~2 5
Iron and steel 2 1$
Machinery 5 11
Other ' 10 10
Transportation, communication and utilities 5 6
Trade 17 13
Personal services 13 10
Other services 16 20
Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 9
percent; housewives 2 percent; unemployed 1 percent; others 2 percent.
Clerical workers and operatives comprised about one-third of the
migrant workers at their last residence, but in Battle Creek nearly half of
the workers found employment in these two occupational categories. There
were very few craftsmen among the migrant workers.
The occupations of the migrants before and after migration were
as follows?
A3?h6
Occupation At last residence In Cattle Creek
"(Percent distribution)
Total _ 100 100
No job at last residence ■ 111
Unemployed in Battle Creek - 3
Professional and semi-professional 7 9
Proprietors, managers, and officials 6 7
Clerical and kindred workers 1$ 15
Craftsmen and kindred workers 8 10
Operatives and kindred workers 19 28
Domestic service workers 5 3
Other service workers 10 13
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 11 -x-
Laborers, except farm 5 12
-x- Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of 1,000 migrant workers, an estimated 30, or 3 percent were
unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week prior to interview.
Unemployment by Sex. L'en and women frenorted about the same unem¬
ployment rate in Battle Creek. Among women workers U percent were unemployed
and among men 3 percent.
Unemployment by Race. The unemployment rate of Negro workers was
9 percent, as compared, with 3 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Age. Battle Creek migrants reported only small
variations in unemployment according to age:
Age of worker Percent unemployed in Battle Creek
Total 3
Under 20 years h
20-2l|. years h
2%-hk years 2
US years and over 5
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Unlike the other cities covered
in these surveys, Battle Creek migrants who had arrived in the city shortly
before interview reported no greater unemployment than those who had been in
the city longer.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 3
October 19h0-March I9I1I 2
April 19Ul-iay L9bl ""
June-July ±9bl ^
August-Sept ember- 19^1 ^
October-November 19Ul ^
-x- Less than 0.5 percent
A39h6
- 5 _
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Except for workers from "other"
service industries, no industrial group among the migrants reported high
unemployment,
Industry at last residence Fercent unemployed in Battle Creek
Total 3
No job 2
Agriculture, fcrestrj^ and fishing
Mining /
Construction f
Manufacturing 2
Transportation, communication, and utilities /
Trade 3
Personal services 3
Other services 16
f Base too small for computation.
Domestic and other service workers and clerical workers reported
the highest unemployment rates in Battle Creek. No other occupational group
showed any significant proportion of unemployed workers.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Battle Creek
Total 3
No job 2
Professional, semiprofessional, and proprietory -x-
Clerical and kindred workers 6
Craftsmen and kindred workers 3
Operatives and kindred workers 3
Domestic and other service workers 8
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers ^
Laborers, except farm /
-x- Less than 0.5 percent.
/ Base too small for computation.
Housing
The majority of the migrant families were sharing their living
quarters with other persons in Battle Creek. About two-fifths were occupying
a separate dwelling unit, and a few were living in hotels.
A39h6
- 6 -
Living arrangements
Total
Total
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
38
Sharing a dwelling with others
56
In hotels
6
* Less than 0.5 percent.
1-person families Multiperson families
100
100
8
59
78
hi
lh
Conclusions
Like many similar nidv.-estern cities—South Bend, Ind.; Dayton, Ohio;
ani Quincy, 111., for example—Cattle Creek's recent in-migration has been
characterized by moderate volume, and by the marked success of migrant workers
in obtaining jobs.
FEDERAL TVORKS AGENCY
"York Projects Administration
Division of Research
A2932 JEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
WorfcTpro jects Administration
July 14, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Detroit and Environs
5-
INTRODUCTION
Survey C overage
A survey of migration into Detroit, Michigan and environs was
conducted by the WFA Division of Research during the early part of June
1941. The survey was concerned with persons who moved into the survey
area from places outside of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties after Octo¬
ber 1, 1940, and who were still living in the survey area in June 1941. l/
Migrants living in both residential and rooming-house districts were covered
in the survey, and special surveys were conducted in low-priced hotels and
in trailer camps within commuting distance of Detroit. Higher-priced hotels
were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about per¬
sons who had left the Detroit area during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Midyear in 1941 found the tempo of Detroit's industrial activity
increasing rapidly. As early as March, the Bureau of Employment Security
reported acute labor shortages in several highly-skilled tra.des. Unlike
most American cities, however, Detroit had not yet recovered the ground lost
during the slump of the late 1930's. According to the Bureau of La.bor
Statistics, Detroit's index of factory employment for April 1941 was 15.2
i/ The following satellite cities were included in t'he survey: Highland
Park, Hamtramck, Dearborn, Ecorse, River Rouge, Melvinaale, Allen Park,
Lincoln Park, Wyandotte, Inkster, East Detroit, Roseville, St, Clair
Shores, Berkeley, Clawson, Royal Oak, and Ferndale. Open country areas
were not included in the survey.
Persons were not considered migrants if they had moved between Wayne,
Oakland, and Macomb Counties. Had they been so considered, the migration
estimates for Wayne County would have been 12 percent greater than actually
reported here.
A2932 - 2 -
percent higher than in April 1940; "but it was still 10.7 percent below the
12-month average for 1937.
During the past year both 'CPA and direct relief loads in the
Detroit ares have dropped steadily. On June 13, 1941, however, about 18,000
Wayne County workers were still employed on WTA, and the proportion of the
Wayne County population on WPa was only slightly below the proportion for
the country as a whole.
In short, Detroit at midyear in 1941 offered broad opportunity
for several important categories of workers, but only restricted opportun¬
ity for others. An indiscriminate mass migration was obviously not yet
justified by the condition of Detroit's industry.
This memorandum is an analysis of the response of outside workers
to these opportunities.
FBIBSR 01 MIGRANTS
Approximately 16,300 families living in the Detroit area in early
June 1941 had moved into the area from outside of Wayne, Oakland, and Aacomb
Counties after October 1, 1940. These families contained 16,300 workers
(a few of the families had no workers and a few had more than one worker.)
And they contained 33,900 persons, eoual to 1.8 percent of the 1940 popula¬
tion of the area surveyed.
By comparison, a survey of Akron, Ohio, showed that migrants
entering the city after October 1940 and remaining in the city in April 1941
made, up a group equal to 0.8 percent of the 1941 population. In hay 1941
s similar study of Chicago showed a migrant •■•ate of 0.7 percent, and in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, a rate of 2.6 percent.
A2932 - 3 -
About four-fifths of the migrants were located in Detroit proper,
and one-fifth were located in the 17 satellite cities. Migrants in Detroit
proper made up a group equal to 1,7 percent of the 1940 population, not sig¬
nificantly below the proportion for the entire survey area. In the satellite
cities, the migrant rate was 2.2 percent.
ORIGINS
The principal origins of the migrants were the large industrial
cities of the east and midwest, the "depressed areas" of northern Michigan,
and mountain communities lying south of the Ohio River.
The average distance traveled by Detroit migrants was about 340 miles;
i.e., half the migrants came from within a circle roughly bounded by Ishpeming,
Michigan; Madison, Wisconsin; Champaign, Illinois; Lexington, Kentucky; Harris-
burg, Pennsylvania and Syracuse, New York. Although few workers came from the
immediate neighborhood of Detroit. (16 percent came from within 100 miles),
there were also few workers who came exceptionally long distances. Only 1 worker
in 4 had traveled 500 miles or more, and only 1 in 25 had traveled upwards of
1,000 miles.
Rural places (i.e., places of less than 2,500 population) contributed
an exceptionally high proportion of the migrants. Among all the migrant families,
41 percent came from rural places, 22 percent from towns (2,500 to 25,000 popu¬
lation), 12 percent from small cities, and 25 percent from cities of over 100,000
population.
Most of the families had moved to the Detroit area for the first time;
68 percent contained no member who had evc-r lived in the Detroit area before.
(Among the Negroes, 84 percent had never lived in the area before.) Among the
families who had formerly lived in the Detroit area, about half had been absent
for 4 years or more.
CHARACTERISTICS
.Age and Sex
The average age of all workers in the migrant families was 30.4
years, substantially below the average for local workers. In 1-person
A2932 - 4 -
families the average age was 36.7 years; in multiperson families the aver¬
age was "3.5 years. One migrant worker in ten was 45 years and over.
Women workers constituted one-sixth of all the migrant workers,
a proportion considerably smaller than that prevailing in the Detroit labor
marke t.
Race
Negroes were underrepresented among Detroit migrants. White
families made up 96 percent of the migrants, and nonvhite families (prac¬
tically all of them Negroes) ma.de up 4 percent, Nonvhite migrants con¬
stituted 1,1 percent of the 1940 nonwhite population of the Detroit area,
as against a migrant rate of 1.8 percent for white persons.
INDUSTRY AND OOCUFATION
Industry Before and After Migration
The industrial distribution of Detroit migrant workers on their
last full-time jobs at their last place of residence, ana on their jobs
in the Detroit area at the time of this survey, was as follows:
At last place
Industry of residence In Detroit
(Percent listribition)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1J
17
—
Unemployed in Detroit
-
10
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
21
*
Mining
2
*
Construction
7
5
Manufacturing
19
45
Transportation equipment
5
29
Iron and steel
r>
4
Machinery
2
6
Other
10
6
Transportation and Communication
7
7
Trade
10
16
Domestic and Personal Service
6
6
Other services
7
7
Other
4
4
1/ Included persons unemployed and persons not in the labor market,
A2932
- 5 -
This table reveals important industrial shifts. Before migration,
nearly half of the workers fell into four classes: persons engaged in agri¬
culture, in mining, in construction, and persons without jobs. After migra¬
tion, these same four classes contained only 15 percent of the workers.
Migration to Detroit resulted in a substantial shift to the trade industries,
more than doubled the proportion of the migrants in all manufacturing, and
multiplied five-fold the proportion of migrants in the manufacture of trans¬
portation equipment.
Occupation Before and After Migration
The occupational distribution of Detroit migrants at their last
residence and in Detroit was as follows:
At last place
Occupation of Residence In Detroit
(Percent Distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence if
17
—
Unemployed in Detroit
-
10
Profession and semiprofessional workers
8
5
Farm owners and managers
3
-
Other proprietors, managers, and officials
6
3
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
10
13
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
11
21
Operatives and kindred \«;orkers
15
31
Domestic service tforkers
3
4
Other service workers
3
4
Farm laborers and foremen
18
-
Laborers, except farm
6
9
The Detroit labor market drew a substantial proportion of its
migrants from, unskilled occupations, but it offered few unskilled jobs.
Before migration, 30 percent of the workers were in unskilled occupations;
but in Detroit, only 17 percent held unskilled jobs. Professional and pro¬
prietary workers also declined, but less sharply. On the other side cf the
scale, there was a small increase among clerical workers, and a doubling of
persons engaged in skilled and semiskilled occupations.
1/ Includes persons unemployed and persons not in the labor market.
A2932
-6-
UIJEMFLOi^NT
Out of 16,300 migrant workers in Detroit, a total of 1,600, or
10 percent, were unemployed and seeking work when enumerated. According
to current s\irveys of the Detroit labor market, approximately the same
proportion of Detroit's resident workers was "unemployed at midyear.
Among the different groups of migrant workers there was a wide
and significant divergence in the incidence of unemployment.
Unemployment hv Race
The rate of unemployment among Negro migrants was more than three
time greater than among white workers. While 9 percent of the white wor¬
kers were unemployed, Negro migrants reported an unemployment rate of 30
percent.
Unemployment by Sex
Women migrant workers had about twice the unemployment rate of
men. Among the men, 8 percent were unemployed; among the women, 17 percent.
Unemployment by Age
Migrants aged 25 to 34 years were the most fortunate group in
securing work, and the greatest difficulty was experienced by the very young
and the very old.
Age
Percent of Workers Unemployed
Total
10
Under 20 years
20
11
4
3
10
12
20
20-24 years
25-29 years
30-34 years
35-4-4 years
45-54 years
55 years and over
A2932
-7-
Unemployment by Distance Traveled
There was little difference in the unemployment rates of migrants
who came from within a 500-mile radius of Detroit, Beyond 500 miles, however,
the unemployment rate increased progressively. The rates by distance traveled
follow:
Distance Traveled Percent Unemployed
Total 10
Less than 200 miles 8
200 to 499 miles 9
500 to 999 miles 14
1,000 miles and over 19
Unemployment by Industry
Workers engaged in manufacturing on their last full-time jobs
at their last residences had found the least difficulty in securing work
in the Detroit area: only 1 percent of these workers were unemployed when
interviewed. Workers in the trade industries likewise had little unemploy¬
ment in Detroit. The highest unemployment rates were reported by workers
from the domestic and personal services industries and workers without jobs
at their last residence. Rates by industry were as follows:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Detroit
Total 10
No job 20
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 12
Mining 7
Construction 9
Manufacturing 1
Transportation and communication 10
Trade 3
Domestic ana personal services 18
Other 4
A2932
-8-
Unemolovment by Occupation
kigrant workers who came from white collar, skilled, and semi¬
skilled occupations had the lowest rates of unemployment in Detroit,
laborers had about the average rate, and high rates were reported by do¬
mestic and personal service workers and persons i\rithout jobs at their last
residence. The rates by occupation follow;
Occu-oation at last residence Fercent unemployed in Detroit
Total 10
No job 20
Profession and proprietary workers 5
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers 4
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 5
Operatives and kindred workers 6
Domestic and personal service workers 26
Laborers 12
HOUSING
Only about one-third of the migrant families occupied a separate
dwelling unit when enumerated. Well over half of the families had doubled
up with others, and one-tenth were living in hotels and trailers. The
distribution of the families according to living arrangements follow;
Living Arrangements Total 1-rerson families kultioerson families
(Fercent distribution)
Total
100
52
48
Occupying a separate dwelling
34
5
29
Sharing a dwelling with others
56
39
17
In hotels
8
8
*
In trailers
2
*
2
*Less than 0.5 percent.
It should be noted that many of the families had moved to the
Detroit area without all their normal family members. Dvery fifth family
had left dependents behind at the place of origin and dependents who had
not migrated with their families totalled 7,500 persons.
A2932
9-
CONCLUSIONS
The recent movement of workers to the Detroit area has obviously
involved a certain amount of difficulty for many individual migrants. Here
presence in the Detroit labor market has not proved to be a guarantee of
a job for all outside workers, any more than for all Detroit resident wor¬
kers .
By and large, however, the movement into Detroit appears to have
proceeded with reasonable smoothness. Although disadvantaged economic
groups among Detroit migrants consistently reported high rates of unemploy¬
ment, all such groups for which comparisons are possible were underrenresented
in the migrant population. In general, the migrants appear to have made
*
a remarkably realistic appraisal of the economic opportunities of the Detroit
area. In any case, one finds in Detroit to date no evidence to support the
belief that the National Defense Program has brought a great mass of un-
needed workers to this important industrial center.
A 3828
FEDERAL *70RK? AGENCY
"ifork Projects Adr.iniscraoion
January 16, 19h2
MEMO n DID'
Recent Migration into Kalamazoo, Dicrigan
A survey of migration into Kalamazoo, Michigan, was conducted
by the ~,JPA Division of Research during T'o ember 19hl. The survey was concerned
with civilians who moved to Kalamazoo from places outside Kalamazoo County
after October 1, 19^0, and who were still living there at the time of the survey.
Operating on a sample basis, the survev covered the residential districts and
lower-priced hotels within the corporate limits of Kalamazoo. Higher-priced
hotels wore not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about
persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Kalamazoo is not directly a defense production center. Between
June 19t0 and October 19'ij.l the city received defense contracts valued at only
about t250,000, equal to less than ono-half of one percent of 'the product value
of the city's 1937 manufactures. Indirectly, however, Kalamazoo's industries,
particular!the paper mills and metal-products plants, had benefitted from
defense activity and the general rise of industrial production levels. A shortage
of certain categories of skilled workers had been experienced during the llj. months
period covered by this survey, but the local supply of unskilled v/orkers was re¬
ported to be more than ample.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 850 families living in Kalamazoo at the time of
this survey had moved to the city from places outside Kalamazoo County after
October 1, I9I4O. These families contained 850 Workers and a total of 1,730 per¬
sons. \igrants made up a group equal to 3.2 percent of Kalamazoo's 19U0 population.
Origins
Michigan was the principal source of Kcilamazoo migrants, contri¬
buting 55 percent of the total. Illinois and Indiana each contributed 12 percent,
and 3 percent came from Ohio. The average distance traveled by the migrants was
95 miles, and only 8 percent traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of nearly one-third of the migrants;
i.e., 12 percent cane from open country \nd" 20 percent from rural villages. Towns
(2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 27 percent; snail cities, 20 percent; and
cities of over 1-00,000 population, .2-1 percent,
One-fourth (25 percent) of the migrant f:miilios had formerly lived
in Kalamazoo. Half of these families had been absent about k years before their
return.
Characteristics
Age and Sox. The average age of Kalamazoo migrants was 28.0 years.
In 1-person families, the average age was 23.8 years, and for heads ox multiporson
families, 3U.3 years. Twelve percent of the migrants were under 20 years, and 13
percent were E5 years and over.
A 3828
-2-
Famale workers constituted 26 percent of all the migrant workers. The
average age of female workers was 23.1 years, as compared with 29.8 years for
male s.
Race_. Negroes constituted 3 percent of the Kalamazoo migrants.
Size of Family. When interviewed, Kalamazoo migrant families averaged
2.0 persons per family. Nearly half of the families contained only one person.
Size of family in Kalamazoo Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 1±7
2 persons 22
3 and 1* persons 28
5 persons and over 3
Most of these families were complete when interviewed. Only 8 percent
of the 1-person families and 9 percent of the multiptrson families had left a
spouse or dependent children behind when moving to Kalamazoo. Before migration,
the families had contained 1,900 persons. Of these, 92 percent had migrated and
8 percent had stayed at the migrants' places of origin.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants had arrived in Kalamazoo
during or before August 19i*l:
Month of arrival
Percent dish
Total
100
October 19l*0-!arch 19^1
13
April-May l?bl
13
June-July 191*1
19
August-Sept ember 19i*l
22
October 19l*l
19
November 19l*l
11*
Industry and Occupation
Kalamazoo migrant workers were drawn principally from manufacturing,
trade, and "other" service industries. The proportions of both fanners and new
workers •among the migrants were relatively small. In Kalamazoo, manufacturing
(especially paper manufacturing) was the most important employer of migrant
workers, with trade second and "other" service industries third.
The industrial distribution of the workers on their last full-time jobs
at their last residence, and on their jobs when interviewed in Kalamazoo, was as
follows:
A 3828
Industry
Cotal
-3-
J^t last In
residence Kalamazoo
(Percent distribution)
100
12
100
Unemployed in Kalamazoo
-
3
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
8
1
Mining
3
—
Construction
6
7
Manufacturing
22
38
Paper
~J
TJ
Iron and steel
2
5
Machinery
3
5
Other
111
15
Transportation, communication, and utilities
7
6
Trade
20
21
Personal services
5
9
Other services
17
15
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 6 percent;
housewives, 2 percent; unemployed, 3 percent; others, 1 percent.
Both before and after migration, Kalamazoo migrants wore engaged
principally as white-collar workers and operatives. There were few craftsmen
among the migrants. The principal occupational shifts involved in the migration
were shifts into operative and domestic and other service jobs.
The occupational distribution of the migrants before and after migra¬
tion follows:
Occupation
Total
At last In
residence Kalamazoo
(Percent distribution)
100
100
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Kalamazoo
Professional and semi-professional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
12
—
3
9
9
9
10
19
15
8
10
19
28
h
6
5
8
'8
-/C
7
11
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3823
- 4 -
Unemployment
Unemployment was slight among Kalamazoo migrants. Out of 850 workers,
only 25, or 3 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding
the survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Female migrant workers reported an unemployment
rate of 5 percent, as compared with 3 percent for males.
Unemployment hy Ave. Workers under 25 years reported practically no
unemployment, and the highest rate was reported "by workers 45 years or over.
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 3
Under 20 years 1
20-24 years 1
25-44 years 5
45 years and over 8
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Only minor variations in unemploy¬
ment were shown "by workers who arrived in Kplamazoo at different times during
the 14 months covered by the survey.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 3
October 1940-I-iay 1941 4
June-July 1941 2
August-September 1941 2
October 1941 3
ITovember 1941 " 6
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. The least successful migrants
in Kalamazoo were those formerly engaged in farming and transportation; even among
these workers, however, only 8 percent were unemployed. There were practically
no unemployed migrants from either manufacturing or "other" service industries.
Unemployment rates by the migrant's industry at last residence were as follows;
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Ka.laina.zoo
Total 3
No job 4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 8
Mining /
Construction 5
Manufacturing 1
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
Trade 3
Personal service /
Other services 1
•f Base too small for computation.
A3828
- 5 -
In terms of occupations, farmers, non-farm laborers, and domestic
and other service workers were least successful in Kalamazoo. White-collar,
skilled, and semiskilled workers reported the lowest unemployment rate. Hates by
occupation follow:
Occupation ht last residence Percent unemployed in Kalamazoo
Total 3
Ho job 4
Professional and Proprietary *
Clerical ancl kindred workers 3
Craftsmen and kindred workers 2
Operatives and kindred workers 2
Domestic and other service workers 6
farm owners, tenants, and laborers 8
Laborers, except farm 7
* Less than 0,5 percent.
Housing
The majority of the migrant families were sharing a dwelling with
others when enumerated. More than one-third found separate living quarters,
and a small number lived in hotels.
Living arrangements
Total
Occupying a separate dwelling
Sharing a dwelling with others
In hotels
Conclusions
1-person Multiperson
Total families families
(Percent distribution)
100 100 100
35 14 55
57 72 44
7 14
The number of workers migrating to Kalamazoo during the 14 months
period covered in this survey was not particularly large. The majority of the
cities covered to date in this survey had attracted a larger number of migrants
in relation to their 1940 population. Kalamazoo migrants were, however, unusually
successful in finding work; only a negligible number of unemployed workers were
included among the migrants.
FEDERAL WORKS AGEHCY
Work Projects Administration-
Division of Research
A3 8U5
•FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
iJbrk Projects Administration
January 20, 19h2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration-'into Saginaw, Michigan
A survey of migration into Saginaw, Michigan was completed by the
17 P A Division of Research in mid-November l$hX. The survey was concerned with
civilians who moved to Saginaw from places outside of Saginaw .County after
October 1, 15h0, and who were still living in Saginaw, at the time' of the survey.
Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts,
lower priced hotels, and tourist camps within the corporate limits of Saginaw.
Higher priced'hotels were'not surveyed and no attempt was made to gather in¬
formation about persons who left Saginaw during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June lpliO and September 191+1, Saginaw County received direct
defense contracts totalling about £30,000,000, and equal to slightly more
than one-third the 1537 product value of manufactures in the county. These
contracts, together with increased activity in the automobile industry, raised
Saginaw employment to the highest level in history during the early summer
of 19bl, and created a moderate demand for new skilled and semiskilled workers.
Number of Migrants
Approximately l,i|00 families living in Saginaw at the tine of the
survey had moved to the eity from places outside of the County after October 1,
I5I4O. These families contained 1,300 workers and 2,900 pers.ons. Migrants
made up .a group equal to 3.9 percent of Saginaw's 15U0 population.
Origins
Michigan was the principal source of migrants, contributing 67 per¬
cent. The next-most important source was Indiana with 7 percentf Illinois
with 6 percent; and Ohio with h percent. The average distance traveled by
migrants was 90 miles; only 9 percent traveled more than 500 miles.
Rural places (less than 2,500 population)., were the origin' of 28
percent of the migrant workers; i.e., 2 percent had come from open-country
and 26 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) con¬
tributed 26 percent; small cities, 18 percent; and cities over 100,000 popu¬
lation 28 percent.
Seventeen percent of the migrant families had formerly lived in
Saginaw. About half of these families had been absent from the city for 7
years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers in migrant families
A38U5
- 2 -
was 29.li years. In 1-person families the average was 2U.6 years, and
for heads of multi-person families, 31.5 years. Workers under 20 made
up 9 percent of the migrants, and those US years and over 11 percent.
Women workers made up 13 percent of the Saginaw migrant
workers. The average age of women workers was 23.2 years, as compared
with 30.0 years for men.
lace. Negroes constituted 2 percent of the Saginaw migrants,
and white persons 93 percent.
Size of Family. Saginaw migrant families averaged 2.3 persons
per family; close to half contained only one person when interviewed.
Size of Family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 1*5
2 person 23
3 and I4. persons 26
5 persons and over 6
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; only
15 percent of the 1-person families and 5 percent of the multi-person
families had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved
to Saginaw. Before migration the families had contained 3,200 persons,
of whom 91 percent had migrated and 9 percent had stayed at the migrants'
last residences.
Month of Arrival. Almost half of the migrant -workers arrived
in Saginaw during the 5 months preceding this survey. The distribution of
migrants according to the month of their arrival iri Saginaw was as follows:
Month of Arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19h0-Fcbruary 19Ul 21
March-April- 19bl 15
May-June 19Ul 13
July-August 19i4l 11
September I9I4I 11
October I9I4I U
November 19^1 I/ 13
1/ Does not include the whole of November I9I4I
Industry and Occupation
The most important manufacturing industries contributing to Saginaw's
labor supply • were iron and steel and transportation equipment.
A3 815
- 3 -
Trade was the former industrial attachment of 18 percent of the vro.rke.rs
and' 17 percent came from ".other" service .industries. A considerable
proportion- (15 percent-)'of the workers held no jotps' at last residence,
and 9 percent came from agriculture.
In Saginaw iron and-, steel manufacture and-automobile-parts
plants employed the largest proportion of the migrants. Trade and "other"
services absorbed a sizable proportion of the migrants.
Industry At last -residence In -Saginaw
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
15
—
Unemployed in Saginaw
-
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
9
■>/■
Mining
"/V
Construction
3
6
Manuf acturing
21
52
Iron and steel and their products
7
22
Transportation equipment
7
15
Other
10
15
Transportation, communication, and
utilities
o
6
Trade
18
15
Personal services
3
2
Other services
17
11-
* Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 9
percent; housewives 2 percent; unemployed, 3 percent; others, 1 percent.
In terms of occupations, migration to Saginaw was primarily the
movement of skilled, semiskilled, and clerical employees. These three
occupational groups made up 16 percent of the migrants at their last residence,
but in Saginaw they comprised 67 percent of the migrants. Especially
significant shifts occurred in the proportions of workers reporting themselves
as semiskilled and skilled workers. The occupational distribution of migrants
before and after migration follows:
Occupation At"'last residence- -In -Saginaw
(Percent lii^ributxon)
Total
100
100
No job at last.residence
15
_
Unemployed in Saginaw
-
5
Professional and scmiprofcssional
10
Q
y
Proprietors, managers and officials
12
10
Clerical and kindred workers
15
17
Craftsmen and kindred workers
13
18
Operatives and kindred workers
13
32
Domestic and kindred workers
1
1
Other service workers
5
1
Farm owners, ton-ants, and laborers
8
Laborers, except farm
3
1
•x Less than 0.5 percent
A38U5
- h -
Unemployment
Out of 1,300 workers in Saginaw an estimated 65, or 5 percent,
were unemployed during the calendar week immediately preceding the survey.
Unemployment by Sex Unemployment among female migrant workers
was seven times greater than among males; 22 percent of the women were
unemployed as compared with 3 percent of the men.
Unemployment by Age The youngest workers and those over \x$
years of age reported the highest unemployment rates in Saginaw.
Age of worker Percent unemployed in Saginaw
Total 5
Under 20 years 17
20-21). years 5
2%-kh years 2
hS years and over 11
Unemployment by Month of Arrival
Recently arrived workers in Saginaw reported generally lower
unemployment than migrants who had been in the city longer.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival Percent unemployed in Saginaw
Total
5
October l^O-February lpkl
8
March-April 19lil
k
May-June Iplil
10
July-August 191+1
s
**
September 19l|l
■5'r
October 19l.il
*-
November IpUl
h
Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation
Workers who held jobs in "other" service industries at last
residence reported twice the average unemployment rate in Saginaw.
Relatively slight unemployment was reported, by workers formerly engaged
in manufacturing and practically none by farm workers. Tforkers who held
no job at their last residence reported somewhat above average unemployment,
Rates by industry follow:
A3815 ~ * "
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Saginaw
Total 5
No job 7
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining %
Construction *
Manufacturing 3
Transportation, communication, and utilities /
Trade - 9
Personal services /
Other services , 10
/ Base too small for computation.
4ft Loss than 0.3 percent.
In terms of occupations, professional and semiprofessional
and semiskilled workers had the highest unemployment rates in Saginaw.
Craftsmen and clerical workers, on the other hand, were singularly
successful in finding employment. The table below presents unemployment
rates by occupations of migrant workers at their former residence.
Occupation at last residence Pore ont unemployed in Saginaw
Total 5
No job at last residence 7
Professional and semiprofessional 10
Proprietors, managers, and officials /
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers 1
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 1
Operatives and. kindred workers 9
Domestic service workers /
Other serv"i ce workers /
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers /
Laborers except farm /
/ Base too small for computation.
Housing
Almost one-half of the migrant families in Saginaw secured separate
living quarters. Four-fifths of the multi-person families were occupying a
separate dwelling when enumerated. Three percent of the families were living
in hotels and three percent in trailer or tourist camps.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families LIultl-person
families
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
h 9
9
80
Sharing a dwelling with others
15
83
15
In hotels
3
8
In trailer or tourist camps
3
5
-*• Less than 0.5 percent
A38US
- 6 -
Conclusions
The volume of migration into Saginaw during the first year
of defense activity has been relatively small, but Saginaw migrants
were relatively succesful in finding work. The great majority of the
cities covered in this survey reported a higher migrant rate than Saginaw,
but only a small proportion of the cities showed a lower rate of
unemployment among migrant workers.
FEDERAL WORKS AGEJCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of P.esearch
A3619
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
November 29, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into St. Louis
A survey of migration into St, Louis, Missouri, was completed by
the WPA Division of Research during the first week of November 1941, The
survey was concerned with persons who moved to St, Louis after October 1, 1940,
and who were still living there when the survey was conducted. Operating on
a sample basis, the survey covered the residential districts, the rooming-house
districts, and lower-priced hotels \d.thin the corporate limits of St, Louis,
Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather
information about persons who had left St, Louis during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and August 1941, St, Louis received defense con¬
tracts valued at about $240,000,000, or only half as much as Baltimore received
and only two-thirds as much as Wichita, Kansas, Close to half of the St, Louis
defense contracts were to provide new industrial facilities, some of which
were still under construction at the time of the present survey.
The index of manufacturing employment in St, Louis rose 27,8 percent
between August 1940 and August 1941, reflecting substantial direct and indirect
benefit from the defense program. Relatively, however, this increa.se was not
particularly great, for it gave St, Louis only 43rd rank among 84 American
cities.
According to local estimates, there were 57,000 unemployed workers
in St, Louis shortly before the beginning of the defense program. At the time
A3619
-2-
of the pi*osont survey, the local labor rosorvo had apparently not been exhausted;
and in view of ponding layoffs as a rosult of shortagos of matorials, it was
not oxpectod to disappear for many months to come. Labor shortages had boon
reported only in certain skilled categories and some types of clerical and
professional workers.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 9,800 families living in St. Louis at the time of the
present survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. These families
contained 11,200 workers and 20,800 persons. Migrants made up a group equal
to 2.5 percent of St. Louis' 1940 population. In terms of its population,
St. Louis had received two-and-a-half times more migration than Philadelphia,
but received one-third less than Baltimore.
Origins
The State of Missouri was the origin of 44 percent of the migrants.
Illinois was second contributor with 17 percent, and Arkansas third with 5
percent. The average distance traveled by the migrants was 160 miles. One
worker in 7 had traveled more than 500 miles to St. Louis.
Sural places contributed nearly two-fifths of the migrants; i.e.,
16 percent came from the open country and 22 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 27 percent; small cities, 13
percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 22 percent.
A relatively high proportion of the migrants (31 percent) had formerly
lived in St. Louis. Half of these families had been absent from the city for
approximately 5 years.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers in the migrant families
A3619
-3-
was 30.3 years. In 1-person families the average was 39,7 years, and for heads
of multiperson families, 33,8 years, Workers under 20 years made up 11 percent
of the workers, and those over 45 yoars made up 17 percent,
Women workers mado up 21 percent of all tho St, Louis migrant workers.
The average ago of womon workers was 26,0 years, as compared with 32,2 years
for males.
Race. Negroes constituted 3 percent of the St, Louis migrants. The
migrant rate for Negroes was 0,5 percent of the 1940 population as against 2,7
percent for white persons.
Size of Family. When interviewed in St. Louis, half the families
consisted of only one person:
Size of family in St. Louis Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 50
2 persons 17
3 and 4 persons 25
5 persons and over 8
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; 35 percent
of the 1-person families, and 5 percent of the multiperson families had loft
a spouse or dependent children "behind when they moved to St. Louis, Before
migration, the families had contained 22,750 persons; of these, 20,800 had
migrated and 2,950 had remained at tho migrants' places of origin.
Months Lived in County. A distribution of migrant workers according
to tho month of their arrival in St. Louis was as follows;
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-Pobruary 1941 13
March-April 1941 13
May-June 1941 SO
July-Angust 1941 28
Soptcmbor 1941 18
October 1941 8
A3619
Industry and. Occupation
The industrial distribution of the migrant workers on their last
full-time jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in St,
Louis was as follows:
At last
Industry residence In St. Louis
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
So job at last residence 1/
23
Unemployed in St. Louis
-
16
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
15
*
Mining
2
1
Construction
17
23
Manufacturing
IS
31
Iron and Steel
2
8
Other
14
23
Transportation, communication, and utilities
4
5
Trade
10
11
Personal services
4
2
Other services
9
11
♦Less than 0.5 percent
l/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 9
percent; housewives, 8 percent; unemployed, 5 percent; and others,
1 percent.
The largest single source of migrants was among workers who held
no job at last residence; i.e., former students, housewives, and unemployed
workers. Another large group of workers had left farming to migrate to
St. Louis. In St. Louis, the most important industries for the migrants
wero construction and manufacturing. These two industries had contributed
only one-third of the workers, but in St. Louis had absorbed well over
one-half.
The occupations of the migrants before and after migration to
St, Louis were as follows:
A3619
-5-
At last
flceunation residence In St. Louis
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
23
Unemployed in St. Louis
-
IS
Professional and semi-professional
4
s
Proprietors, managers, and officials
3
2
Clerical and kindred workers
8
12
Craftsmen and kindred workers
21
26
Operatives and kindred workers
16
21
Domestic service workers
2
1
Other service xrorkers
3
4
farm owners, tenants, and laborers
14
#
Laborers, except farm
6
12
*Less than 0.5 percent
Migration to St. Louis involved a marked shifting into clerks',
craftsmen's, and operatives' jobs. In the case of the clerks, the new
recruits came largely from among students and housewives; among the crafts¬
men and operatives, it resulted from a shift of farm workers. A number of
farm workers also shifted to laborers' jobs.
Unemployment
Out of 11,200 migrant workers in St, Louis, an estimated 1,800,
or 16 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding
interview in connection with this survey. Comparative figures for other
i
survey cities are; Baltimore, 3 percent; Wichita, Kans., 13 percent;
Philadelphia, 8 percent; and Macon, Ga., 11 percent,
UnonDloyment by Sex. Unemployment among female migrant workers
was nearly four times higher than among males; 38 percent of the females
were unemployed, as compared with 10 percent for males.
unemployment by Race. Negroes reported more than four times the
unemployment rate of white persons. Among the Negro migrant workers, SI
percent were unemployed; among white workers, 14 percent.
A3619
-6.
Unemployment by Age. The least successful migrant worleers in
St, Louis wore tho very young, "but workon. over 45 roportod no more than
average unemployment. Rates by age were as follows:
Age of workers Percent unemployed in St. Louis
Total' 15
Under 20 years 24
20-24 years 16
25-44 years 14
45 years and over 16
Unemployment by month of arrival Tho highest unemployment rate
was reported by workers who had boon in St, Louis longest:
Month, of arrival Percent unemployed in St, Louis
Total 16
October 1940-April 1941 22
May-June 1941 8
July-August 1941 14
September 1941 16
October 1941 20
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation, The highest unemploy¬
ment rate was reported by migrant workers who held no job at last residence.
In terms of industry, unemployment was particularly severe among workers
from transportation and trade. Rates were low for workers from the construc¬
tion industry, and about average for farm workers. Rates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in St, Louis
Total 16
Uo job at last residence 26
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 16
Mining J.
Construction 5
Manufacturing 12
Transportation, communication, and utilities 22
Trade 20
Personal services 17
Other services 10
/ Sase too small for calculation
A3619
—7—
In terms of occupation, laborers from non-farm jobs at last
residence had fared worst in St. Louis, and skilled workers fared best.
Workers from operatives' jobs reported about average unemployment, and
domestic servants were only slightly above average. Rates by occupation
follow.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in St. Lop.is
Total 16
Wo job at last residence 26
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 11
Craftsmen and kindred workers 4
Operatives and kindred workers 16
Domestic service workers 20
Other service workers 20
farm owners, tenants, and laborers 15
Laborers, except farm 27
Housing
St. Louis is the first survey city to show a higher proportion
of migrant families occupying a separate dwelling than sharing a dwelling
with other persons. The families living in hotels was also unusually
high in St. Louis.
1-person Multiperson
Living arrangements Total families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
44
7
81
Sharing a dwelling with other persons
36
55
18
In hotels
20
38
1
A36X9
-8—
Conclusions
Although St. Louis is obviously not a "boom city after the
fashion of Wichita, or even Baltimore, recent in-migration has "been
impressive, "both in terms of absolute numbers and in relation to the
size of the resident population, This movement has not, however, been
a particularly successful one. Unemployment among St, Louis migrants
was high in general, and among several groups of migrants - for example,
\
among new workers, Negroes, and unskilled non-farm workers - it was
excessive.
BSDSRAL WOBKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
A3 970
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 13, 19^2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Bloomfield, New Jersey
A survey of recent migration into Bloomfield, New Jersey,
was conducted by the WPA Division of Research during the latter part
of November 19Ul. The survey was concerned with civilians who
moved to Bloomfield from places outside Essex County.after October
1, 19lt0 and who were still living there when this survey was conducted.
Operating on.a sample basis, the survey covered the residential
districts and lower priced hotels within the corporate limits of
Bloomfield. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed and. no attempt was
made to gather information about persons who left the city during the
survey period.
Industrial Activity
Bloomfield is a small segment of the northern New Jersey
industrial area, one of the principal defense centers in the country.
Bloomfield itself has defense contracts valued at $6,900,000, and
the city lies within easy commuting distance of the aircraft plants
at Caldwell, Paterson, and Bendix, and the shipyards at. Kearny.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 300 families containing 350 workers and a
total of 730 persons, living within the corporate limits of Bloomfield
at the time of this survey, had moved to the city after October 1, I9I1O.
Migrants made up a group equal to 1.8 percent of the city's 19il0
population.
Origins
New Jersey contributed the highest proportion, J42 percent,
of the migrant workers. .New York was the second most important source
of migrants, contributing 22 percent, and Pennsylvania was third with
21 percent. The average distance traveled, by migrants was 6U miles,
and only 6 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Large cities (100,000 population or over) contributed 33
percent of the migrant workers and small cities (25,000 - 100,000)
contributed 18 percent. Twenty-six percent of the migrants came from
towns (2,500 - 25,000) and 23 percent came from rural places; i.e., 8
percent came from open country and 15 percent came from rural villages.
Returning Bloomfield residents comprised 15 percent of the
migrant families. About half of these families had been absent from
the city for less than 2 years.
A3 970
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was
29.3 years. In one-person families the average age was 2b. 0 years
and for heads of multi-person families it was 39.0 years, workers
under 20 years of age comprised 9 percent of the migrants and workers
bS years and over 16 percent.
Women workers constituted 15 percent of the migrant labor
force. The average age of women workers was 28.3 years as compared
with 29.b years for men.
Race. Negroes constituted less than one-half of one
percent of the migrants.
Size of Family. The average size of migrant families
was 2.k persons. One-third of the families were composed of one
person.
Size of family in Bloomfield Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 3b
2 persons 23
3 and h persons 35
5 persons or more 8
A few of the families left a spouse or dependent children
at their last residences. Among 1-person families 16 percent and
among multi-person families 3 percent were incomplete when interviewed.
The families contained 800 persons before migration of whom 91 percent
had migrated and 9 percent had stayed at the migrant's last residences.
Month of Arrival
Over two-fifths of the migrants arrived in Bloomfield 6
months or more prior to the survey.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19b0-May 19Ul b5
June-July 19bl lb
August-Septembar 19bl 23
October 19^1 11
November 19Ul 7
Industry and Occupation
Manufacturing and trade contributed the largest proportion
13970
- 3
of the migrant workers. One-sixth of the workers were either un¬
employed at their last residence otf were new workers just entering
the labor market. In Bloomfield, approximately two-thirds of the
migrants were employed in manufacturing. Machinery was. the .principal
manufacturing industry. One-sixth were employed in trade. The
following table shows tho industry of the last full time jobs of
migrants at last residence and on their.jobs when interviewed in
Bloomfield.
Industry
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Ho job at last residence l/
17
—
Unemployed in Bloomfield
-
2
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
4
*
Mining
2
#
Construction
1
2
Manufac turing
6£
Chemicals and allied products
6
7
Machinery
10
29
Transportation equipment
3
6
Other
16
23
Transportation, communication, and
utilities
4
4
Trade
20
12
Personal services
5
7
Other service's
12
8
* Loss than 0.5 percent.
l/ The status of these workers at their last residence was; students
12 percent; housewives 4 percent; .and unemployed 1 percent.
Clerical, skilled, and semiskilled workers made up half
of the workers at their last residence and more than two-thirds in
Bloomfield. Only a very few workers were employed as Laborers either
in Bloomfield or at their last residences. Occupations at last
residence and in Bloomfield follow:
A3970
- 4 -
Occupation
At last rosidcnco in Bloomfiold
(Porcont distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last rosidonco
Unemployed in Bloomfiold
17
Professional and somiprofossional 6 10
Proprietors, managors, and officials 10 9
Clerical and kindred workers 18 23
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindrod
workers 14 17
Operatives and kindred workers 18 28
Domestic service workers 1 1
Other service workers 8 4
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 3 *
Laborers except farm 5 6
* Less than 0,5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of an estimated 350 workers only 7, or 2 percent,
were unemployed during the weok preceding interview.
Housing
Over half of the migrant families were occupying a
separate dwelling unit in Bloomfiold, Nearly two-fifths of the
families were sharing a dwelling unit with other persons, and a
few unattached migrants wore living in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-porson families Multi-parson families
(Porcont distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
57
9
82
Sharing a dwelling with others
39
80
18
In hotels
4
11
-
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Bloomfiold, New Jersey
\iras unusually small during the first year of the defense program. Among
the 51 cities covered in these surveys, only 2 showed a lower migrant
ra,te.
There was virtually no unemployment among the Bloomfiold
migrants,
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3 953
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
MEMORANDUM February 11, 19h2.
Recent Migration into Hackensack, New Jersey
A survey of migration into Hackensack, New Jersey, was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research in the latter part of November 19ul. The
survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Hackensack from places out¬
side of Bergen County after October 1, 19U0, and who were still living there
when this survey was conducted. Operating on a sample basis the survey
covered the residential districts within the corporate limits of the city.
Mo attempt was made to gather information about persons who left the city
during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Hackensack is a small segment in the great industrial area of
northern New Jersey, one of the most important defense centers in the country.
The city itself has large defense contracts, and in addition, it lies 7 miles
from the aircraft factories of Paterson, 2 miles from Bendix, and 12 miles
from the shipyards at Kearny,
Number of Migrants
An estimated 200 families, containing 210 workers and a total of
560 persons, who were living within the corporate limits of Hackensack at
the time of this survey had moved to the city after October 1, 19^0. Migrants
made up a group equal to 2.2 percent of the city's I9I4O population.
Origins
New York was the principal source of Hackensack migrant workers,
contributing 55 percent. New Jersey was the second most important source
with 27 percent, and Massachusetts was third with 11 percent. The average
distance traveled by migrants was 60 miles and only a very few, 1 percent,
had traveled 500 miles or more.
The majority of migrants, 66 percent, moved to Hackensack from
cities of 100,000 population or more. Snail cities (25,000-100,000) con¬
tributed 16 percent of the migrants; towns (2,500-25,000) contributed 8
percent; and rural places "10 percent, i.e. 1 percent came from open country
and 9 percent from rural villages.
Returning Hackensack residents comprised 12 percent of the migrant
families. Of these former residents, about half had been absent from the city
for 3 years or more.
A3 953
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 31.8 years.
In 1-person families the average age was 23.8 years and for heads of multiperson
families 33.0 years. Workers under 20 years constituted 6 percent of the
migrants and workers U5 years or over, 17 percent.
Women workers constituted 13 percent of the migrant labor force,.
The average age of women workers was 25.0 years and of men, 32.8 years.
Race. Negroes comprised I4 percent of the migrants and white persons
comprised 96 percent.
Size of Family. Migrant families averaged 2.8 persons. Only one-
sixth of the families were composed of one person.
Size of family in Hackensack percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 16
2 persons 32
3 and k persons Ij.3
5 persons or more 9
Only a few of the families left a spouse or dependent children at
their last residences, One percent of the multiperson families and 21 percent
of the 1-person families were incomplete when interviewed. Before migration
the families contained. 570 persons, of whom 99 percent had migrated and 1 per¬
cent had remained, at the migrants' last residence.
Month•of Arrival. Approximately half of the workers arrived in
Hackensack during July or earlier.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19l*0-May 19Ul 25
June-July I9I4I 2k
August-September 19Ul 31
October I9I4I 10
November I9I4I 10
Industry and Occupation
One third of the workers at their last residences were employed in
manufacturing, and a large proportion were in trade and. "other" services. In
Hackensack manufacturing increased, employing well over two-fifths of the
workers. Trade and "other"services decreased only very slightly. The manu¬
facturing industry employing the highest proportion of migrant workers in
Hackensack was the manufacture of transportation equipment. Virtually no
workers had come from agriculture, and the proportion of new workers was very
small.
A3 953
- 3 -
The industrial distribution of the workers on their last full-time
jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Hackensack, was
as follows:
Industry Before migration In Hackensack
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
6
Unemployed in Hackensack
-
3
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
2
2
Mining
1
Construction
6
6
I lanuf ac tur ing
33
17
Transportation equipment
9
2%
Apparel and other fabricated textile
products
1
5
Machinery
8
1
Other
12
10
Transportation, communication, and utilities
9
3
Trade
25
23
Personal services
3
2
Other services
15
H
Less than 0.5 percent
1/ The status of these workers at last residence were: Students 3 percent;
housewives 1 percent; unemployed 2 percent; and others less than 0.5 percent.
White-collar workers made up the largest single occupational group
among the Hackensack migrants, accounting for ll percent of the workers before
migration and 13 percent in Hackensack. Semiskilled workers were the second
largest group, and craftsmen were third. There were few laborers among the
migrants.
Occupation At last place of residence In Hackensack
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
;io job at last residence
6
Unemployed in Hackensack
-
3
Professional and semiprofessional
9
11
Proprietors, managers, and officials
19
18
Clerical and kindred workers
16
H
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
13
19
Operatives and kindred workers
21
23
Domestic service workers
2
2
Other service workers
7
1
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
V/
/V
A/
/V
Laborers, other than farm
1
6
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A395>3
- k -
Unemployment
Nearly all of the migrant workers found employment after migration.
Of the estimated 510 migrant workers there were only 15, or 3 percent, who
were seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview.
Housing
The great majority of migrant families in Hackensack were occupying
a separate dwelling unit when interviewed. One-third were sharing a dwelling
with other persons.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
TPsrcent distribution)—
Total 100 100 100
100
100
66
21
3h
79
Occupying a separate dwelling 66 21 75
Sharing a dwelling 3k 79 25
Conclusions
The rate of migration to Hackensack during the first year of the
defense program was exceptionally low. Among the 5l cities covered in this
survey, only 5 showed a lower migrant rate.
Hackensack migrants were notably successful in finding jobs. Only
2 of the 51 cities surveyed reported a lower migrant unemployment rate than
Hackensack.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A4009
INDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 12, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Newburgh. New York
A survey of migration into Newburgh, New York was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during the early part of November 1941.
The survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Newburgh from
places outside of Orange County after October, 1940, and who were still
living there at the time of this survey. Operating on a sample basis
the survey covered the residential districts, and the lower priced hotels
within the corporate limits of the city. Higher priced hotels were not
covered and no attempt was made to gather information about persons who
left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and October 1941 Orange County received over
$2,500,000 in direct defense contracts. Defense contracts were equal
however, to only about one sixteenth of the 1937 product value of
manufactures in the county. At the time of this survey a considerable
number of construction workers were leaving Newburgh as a result of
completion of work on the aqueducts for the New York City water system.
No labor shortages were reported in the l»cal industries of Newburgh
during the survey period.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 390 families, containing. 430 workers and a total
of 900 persons who were living within the corporate limits of Newburgh
at the time of this survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940.
Migrants made.up a group equal to 2.9 percent of the city's population
in 1940.
Origins
New York-was the most important source of migrant workers,
contributing 66 percent. New Jersey was the second most important source
with 9 percent, and Pennsylvania was third with 5 percent. The average
distance traveled by migrants was 70 miles, and only 8 percent had
traveled 500 miles or more.
Large cities (100,000 population and over) were the former
residence of 52 percent of the migrants. Twenty percent came from towns
(2,500 - 25,000 population) and 19 percent came from small cities (25,000 -
100,000 population). Migrants from rural "places made up 9 percent of the
workers; i.e., 3 percent came ikon open country and 6 percent from rural
villages.
A4009
- 2 -
Returning Newburgh residents comprised 23 percent of the
migrant families. About half of these former residents had been
absent from the city for 3 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 33.9
years. In one-person families the average age was 32.5 years and for
heads of multi-person families it was 35.4 years. Only 4 percent of
the workers were under 20 years of age but 1? percent were 45 years
of age or over.
Women workers comprised a relatively high proportion, 28
percent, of the migrants. The average age of women workers was 27.7
years as compared with 35.2 years fdr men.
Race. Negroes comprised 4 percent of the migrants.
Size of family. The average size of migrant families was
2.3 persons. Over one-third of the families were composed of one
person.
Size of family in Newburgh Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 37
2 persons 22
3 and 4 persons 34
5 persons or over 7
A number of these families were not complete when interviewed;
25 percent of the one-person families and 12 percent of the multi-person
families had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved
to Newburgh. Before migration the families had contained, 1,100 persons,
.of whom 87 percent had migrated "and 13 percent had .remained.behind.
Month of Arrival. Two-thirds of the migrants arrived in Newburgh during
the 6 months preceding interview.
Month of Arrival Percent distribution
Total- 100
October 1940-May 1941 34
June-July 1941 23
August-September 1941 26
October 1941 13
November 1941 4
Occupation and Industry
Manufacturing employment among migrants increased from 24
A4009
- 3 -
percent before migration to 33 percent after migration. The major
manufacturing industries employing migrants in Newburgh were textile
mill products, and apparel and other fabricated textile products.
Only 3 percent of the workers were in agriculture at last residence,
but 26 percent were engaged in trade. The industry of the last full-
time jobs of migrant workers and their jobs in ITewburgh are shown
below:
Industry At last residence in Newburgh
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last-residence l/
10
—
Unemployed in Newburgh
-
9
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3
*
Mining
1
*
Construction
9
10
Manufacturing
24
33
Textile mill products
8
11
Apparel and other fabricated textile
products
6
8
Other
10
14
Transportation, communication, and
utilities
7
• 8
Trade
26
25
Personal services
8
7
Other services
12
8
* Less than 0.5 percent.
l/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students 4 percent;
housewives 3 percent; unemployment 2 percent; and others 1 percent.
Two-fifths of the workers were engaged in white-collar
occupations at their last residence and one-third were in the skilled
and semiskilled categories. In ITewburgh the proportion of white collar
groups increased only slightly, but that of the craftsmen and operatives
increased to constitute two-fifths of the migrants. Laborers comprised
only a small proportion of the migrant workers*
Occupation
At last residence in ITewburgh
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Newburgh
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Lomestia service workers
Qther Service workers , , ,
Parm owner, tenants, and laborers
Laborers other than farm
10
-
9
11
11
15
15
. 14
13
15
16
19
21
5
4
§
§
2
3
Less than
0.5 percent
A4009
Unemployment
Of the estimated 430 migrant vrorkers in Newburgh, 40 or 9 per¬
cent were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceeding
interview.
Unemployment by Sex. Unemployment among women workers was more/than
twice as heavy as among men; 16 percent of the women and 7 percent of the
men were unemployed.
Unemployment by Race. One-fourth (25 percent) of the Negro workers, but
only 8 percent of the white workers were unemployed in Newburgh.
Unemployment by Age. The youngest workers had the highest unemployment
rate in Newburgh, and the oldest workers also reported very high unenn
ployment.
Age of workers Percent unemployed in Newburgh
Total 9
Under 20 years 33
20-24 years 12
25-44 years 4
45 years or more 22
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers arriving during the first
full month prior to interview had the highest" unemployment rate in
Newburgh.
Month of Arrival Percent unemployed in Newburgh
Total 9
October 1940-I|ay 1941 9
June-July 1941 15
August-September 1941 4
October 1941 19
November 1941 /
/ Sase too small for computation.
Unemployment by Occupation and Industry.
Workers from personal service had the highest unemployment
rate. There were few unemployed manufacturing employees among the
migrants.
A4009
5
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed In Newburgh
Total 9
Ho job 10
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing -f
Mining /
Construction 5
Manufa c turing 4
Transportation, communication, and utilities -f
Trade *
Personal services 38
Other services 5
^ Base too small for computation
Less than 0.5 percent
In terms of occupations, domestic service workers showed
by far the highest unemployment rate. Semiskilled workers, clerks
ana kindred workers, and those who had no job at their last residence
had slightly above average unemployment. There were only a few
unemployed skilled workers among the migrants.
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Hewburgh
Total 9
No job 10
Professional and semiprofessional 5
Proprietors, managers, and officials 3
Clerks and kindred workers 10
j|(
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers 11
Domestic service workers 30
Other service v/orkers 8
Parm. owners, managers, and laborers /
Laborers other than farm -j
* Less than 0.5 percent.
/ Base too small for computation
Housing
Less than half of the migrant families were living in a
separate dwelling unit; one half were sharing a dwelling with other
persons and a few unattached migrants were living in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multi-person families
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
47
7
72
Sharing a dwelling
50
86
28
In hotels
3
7
—
A4009
- 6 ~
Conclusions
.The volume of repent migration into Newburgh was relatively
small. Only- 9-of- the;51 cities covered in this survey showed a lower
migrant rate. Migrants in Newburgh were less successful in obtaining
employment than those in most of the small cities covered by this
survey.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3440 April 23, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Subject: Recent Migration into Akron, Ohio
A survey of migration into Akron, Ohio, together with the
adjoining cities of Barherton and Cuyahoga Falls, was conducted by
the WPA Division of Research during the first week of April 1941. The
survey covered v/orkers and their families who had moved into the three
cities from places outside of Summit County after October 1, 1940.
Every thirteenth dwelling and every second low-priced hotel in the
three cities were sampled in th| survey. Tourist co.mps were a negli¬
gible factor in Akron and therefore were excluded.
Industrial Activity
Although the Akron area was enjoying a rapid expansion of
industrial activity during the first week of April 1941, its local
unemployment problem was far from being solved. The Akron rubber
factories were working a four-shift day; plant expansion for the
production of rubber-metal aircraft parts was in process; the chemical
plant at Barberton was active; and the area had received some benefit
from the huge construction job at the Ravenna arsenal, 23 miles away.
Yet the backlog of workers laid off. in the 1937 recession had not yet
been exhausted, even at the rubber factories, where the management has
agreed to rehire former employees ahead of other workers.
A brief survey of the Akron area labor market indicated
that there were, by and large, very few opportunities for outside
workers during the 6-months period covered by the survey. Former
rubber workers who had left Akron during the late 1930's stood a
A2440
- 2 -
fair chance of reemployment in the rubber factories; and. some Akron-
area migrants were able to secure work at Ravenna. These two groups
were the only exception to the prevailing situation. Akron thus
provides one test for the hypothesis that "tens of thousands" of
workers are migrating into northern industrial centers without regard
to employment opportunities.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 1,200 families living in the Akron area during
the first week of April 1941 had moved into Summit County after
October 1, 1940. These families contained 2,300 persons. Migrants
thus made up a group equal to 0.8 percent of the 1940 population of
the Akron area. Their contribution to the Akron labor force was
somewhat greater, however, since the migrant group contained a con¬
siderably higher proportion of workers than would be expected in a
settled urban population.
Employment
Migrant workers had been generally successful in finding
jobs. Nine-tenths of the migrant workers were employed during the
week of the survey, and one-tenth were unemployed. To a considerable
extent the high proportion of employment obtained by migrants was the
result of previous experience in the Akron rubber factories.
Industry Before and After Migration
The industrial distribution of workers at their last nlace
of residence and on jobs held in the Akron area is as follows:
A2440
- 3 -
Before migration In the Akron area
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Agriculture
12
1
Mining
5
1
Building construction
12
22
Manuf ac. tuning
32
47
Rubber
4
19
Aircraft
9
6
Other
19
22
Transpor tation
4
6
Trade
20
16
Professional and governmental
services
7
1
Domestic and personal services
8
6
These distributions show a sharp increase in workers attached
to building construction, representing principally the workers employ¬
ed on construction at the Savenna arsenal, and in the rubber industry.
About one-sixth of the workers had been engaged in either agriculture
or mining before migration.
The Akron-area migrants were exceptionally young, even for
a migrant group. The average age of all migrant workers was 28.9 years,
which is 7 or 8 years under the average expected of a settled urban
labor force. Only one migrant worker in four was more than 35 years
of age. The average age of one-person families was 25,3 years; and
the average for the heads of multi-person families was 32.3 years.
A2440
_ 4 -
Origins
The Akron-area migrants had come from relatively long
distances. The distribution of workers according to their place
of origin was as follows:
Place of origin Percent
Total 100
Adjoining counties 20
Elsewhere in Ohio 28
Adjoining states 33
Other states 19
Interstate migrants were actually more numerous in the Akron area
than intrastate migrants.
When traced upon a map, the origins of the migrants are
shown to he concentrated in two types of areas:
(a) Nearby industrial centers, particularly Cleveland
and Pittsburgh
(b) Depressed industrial and agricultural areas,
particularly the southern Ohio and Pennsylvania
coal fields, central West Virginia, and the
southern Appalachians.
The migrants came predominantly from urban places (2,500 or more
population); 71 percent last lived in urban places and. 29 percent
in rural places.
Living Arrangements in Akron
The Akron-area migrant families were made up of two groups
of almost equal size: the one-person families (49 percent) and the
multi-person families (51 percent). The one-person families were
distributed, through the city as follows:
A2440 - 5 -
Living arrangementa Percent
Total (one-person families) 100
Low-priced hotels 29
Rooms in homes and rooming houses 71
The multi-person families were found in the following circumstances:
Living arrangements Percent
Total (multi-person families) 100
Doubled up with other families 17
In a separate dwelling 83
These figures will suggest the relationship between a given influx of
new workers and the occupation of vacant dwelling units.
Summary
It should be noted that the experimental survey of migration
into the Akron area cannot support broad and final inferences about
defense migration because of the impossibility of generalizing from a
single situation. The survey does, however, suggest tentative con¬
clusions which should not be overlooked.
Recent migration into the Akron area appears to have been
neither excessive nor ill-advised. Only 1 worker in approximately
every 100 in the Akron area was found to have arrived during the 6
months preceding the survey. The net gain to Akron, however, was
somewhat less than 1 in 100 since some out-migration has undoubtedly
taken place. The migration to Akron was apparently not even sufficient
to cancel the withdrawal of Akron-area, workers into the armed forces of
the United States. It is important, too, that most of the migrants
had found jobs.
FEDERAL WORKS AC-ENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3949
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 9, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Dayton, Ohio
A survey of migration into Dayton, Ohio, was conducted by the WPA
Division of Research in the latter part of December 1941. The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Dayton from places outside of Mont¬
gomery County after October 1, 1940 and who were still living in Dayton
at the time of the survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered"
the residential districts, lower priced hotels, and trailer camps within
the corporate limits of Dayton. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed and
no attempt was made to gather information about persons who left the city
during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and October 1941, Montgomery County receive prime
defense contracts valued at approximately $95,000,000. A part of this sum
was for construction work at Wright and Patterson air fields and part for
the manufacture of airplane parts, machine guns, machine tools, etc. Manu¬
facturing employment between November 1940 and November 1941 in Dayton in¬
creased 14.5 percent. This increase, however, placed Dayton in only 60th
rank among 84 American cities. Except for certain skilled categories, no.
labor shortages were reported in Dayton during the survey period.
Number of Migrants.
An estimated 5,400 families, containing 5,800 workers and a total of
11,400 persons, living in Dayton at the time of this survey had moved to the
city after October 1, 1940. Migrants made up a group equal to 5.4 percent
of the city's 1940 population.
Origins
Ohio was the principal source of migrants, contributing 47 percent.
Kentucky was the second most important source, contributing 17 percent. Other
States contributing over 5 percent of the migrants were Indiana, 6 percent
and Tennessee, 6 percent. The average distance traveled by migrants was 130
miles; 10 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
The largest group of migrant workers (28 percent) originated in cities
of 100,000 population or over. Three perbent came from open country and 26
percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed
24 percent of the migrants and cities of 25,000 to 100,000 contributed 19
percent.
Only a small proportion, 9 percent, of the migrant families were former
Dayton residents. Of these returning Dayton residents about half had been
absent from the city for 4 years or more.
A3949
- 2 -
Characteristics
Ago and Sox. Tho average ago of migrant workers was 27.7 years. In
l~person families tho avorage age was 24.1 years and for heads of multiperson
families it was 32.3 years. Workers under 20 years of age comprised 12 percent
of the migrant labor force and those 45 years or over, 10 percent.
Women workers constituted 12 percent of the migrants. The average age
of women was 24.0 years as compared, with 29.9 years for men.
' Race. Negroes constituted 5 percent of the migrants and white persons
constituted 95 percent.
Size of Family. The average size of migrant families was 2.1 persons.
One-half of the families were composed of one person.
Size of family in Dayton Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 50
2 persons 23
3 and 4 persons 21
5 persons or more 6
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; 36 percent
of the 1-person families and 22 percent of the multiperson families had left a
spouse or dependent children at their last residences. Before migration the
families contained 15,200 persons; of these, 75 percent had moved to Dayton and
25 percent had remained at the migrants' last residences.
Month of Arrival. ' More than throe-fourths of the workers arrived in
Dayton during the month of September or earlier. The tabulation below shows
the distribution of the migrant workers by the month of their arrival in the
city.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total .100
October 1940—dpril 1941 21
May-June 1941 18
July-August 1941 25
September 1941 14
October 1941 9
November 1941 7
December 1941 l/ 6
]J Does not include the entire month
A3949
- 3 -
Occupation and Industry
The industries contributing the highest proportion of migrants in
order of their relative importance were: manufacturing, trade, .agriculture,
and "other" service industries, Nearly a fifth of the workers had no jobs
at their last residence. In Dayton manufacturing absorbed over two-fifths of
the migrant workers. One-fifth of the migrants obtained jobs in "other"
service industries and one-sixth were employed in trade.
The industrial distribution of the workers on their last full-time
jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed was as follows:
At last
Industry residence In Dayton
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence l/
18
Unemployed in Dayton
-
3
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
14
1
Mining
3
*
Construction
6
6
Manufacturing
22
44
Iron and steel and their products
5
9
Machinery
5
12
Transportation equipment
4
11
Other
8
12
Transportation, communication and utilities
7
7
Trade
14
16
Personal service
3
3
Other service
13
20
* Less than 0,5 percent,
l/ Tho status of these workers at last residence was: Students 10 percent;
unemployed 5 percent; housewives 1 percent; and others 2 percent.
In Dayton, as in most of the other cities surveyed, migrant workers
were principally clerks, craftsmen, and operatives, Before migration, these
three groups made up 44 percent of the workers, and after migration they made
up 62 percent. The proportion of professional workers was relatively large.
The occupations of the migrants before and after migration we re as
follows:
A3949
- 4 -
Occupation
At last
£§Sli2AO£ In Dayton
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Dayton
18
3
Professional and-scmprofessional
Proprietors, managers and officials
Clarke and kindred woitecrs
'Cr«firmen and kindred workers
Opecacives and kindred workers
Domestic, serv: ce workers
Other service workers
Perr. o^nais, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, exeeot farm
10
3
15
16
13
1
6
13
5
10
3
21
30
21
1
11
10
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of 5,800 migrant workers in Dayton, an estimated 175, or 3
percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding the survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Unemployment among women migrant workers was
twice as great as among the men. Six percent of the women were unemployed,
as compared with 3 percent among the men.
Unemployment, by Age. Unemployment was heaviest among the oldest
and the youngest workers:
Age of workers Percent unemployed in Dayton
Total 3
Under 20 years 5
20-24 years 2
25-44 years 3
45 years or over 6
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. No group of workers arriving
in the city at different periods showed high unemployment.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Dayton
Total 3
October 1940-June 1941 3
July-August 1941
September-October 1941
November 1941
December 1941
4i
2
4
6
A3949
- 5 -
Unemployment bv Industry and Occupation. Except for personal ser¬
vice workers,' no industry group reported high unemployment in Dayton. Un¬
employment rates "by industry at last residence are shown "below.
Industry at last residence gprpffipt UHPEiplPyvfl XH. Dayton
Total 3
no job 4
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 5
Mining *
Construction *
Manufac turing 2
Iron and steel *
Machinery *
Transportation equipment 3
Other 2
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 2
Personal service 14
Other services 4
* Less.than 0.5 percent.
Except for domestic and other service workers, all occupational
groups reported very little unemployment in Dayton. Rates by occupation
fc U.ov,
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Dayton
Total 3
Do job 4
Professional and seniprofessional 3
Proprietors, managers, and officials *
Clerks and kindred workers 3
Craftsmen and kindred workers 1
Operatives and kindred workers 2
Domestic and other service workers 10
Earn owners, tenants, and laborers 3
Laborers, except farm *
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
Only about a third of the migrant families were living in separate
dwelling units when interviewed; the great majority were sharing a dwelling
with other persons. A small proportion were living in hotels and a few
were living in tourist or trailer camps.
A3949
*0
1-porson Multiperson
UYinz aryarvwntg gotai fmiliaa.m laaillaa
(Porcont distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
34
8
60
Sharing a dwelling
64
88
38
In hotels
2
4
1
In tourist and trailer camps
♦
-
1
* Ders than 0.5 percent.
Cone; Visions.
In terns of its population, Dayton has recently attracted a
moderately large volume of migration. Although far "below the hottest de¬
fense centers, its migrant rate nevertheless stands substantially above
the rates for such cities as San Francisco and Baltimore.
Migrants to Dayton were unusually successful in finding work.
Only two cities among the 51 covered in these surveys showed a lower unem¬
ployment rate than Dayton.
JTSEEUL WORKS AJnhCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3976
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
MEMORANDUM February 13, 1942
Recent Migration into Marion. Ohio
A survey of migration into Marion, Ohio was conducted "by the WPA
Division of Research in Novembe. 1941. The survey was concerned with civilians
who moved to Marion from places outside of Marion. .County after October 1, 1940,
and who were still living there at the time of this survey. Operating on a sam¬
ple "basis, the survey covered residential districts, lower priced hotels and
tourist and trailer camps-within the corporate limits of Marion,.. The. higher
•priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who had left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and October 1941 Marion County received defense
contracts valued at approximately $2,700,000, equal to a.bout one-eighth the
value of the county's manufactures in 1937. According to local reports employ¬
ment in the city increased by approximately 500 workers during the period
covered by this survey. Unemployment, however, was reported to have declined
by about twice this amount, partly as a result of the out-migration of many
skilled workers to nearby defense cities in northeastern Ohio.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 650 families living in Marion at the time of this survey
had moved to the city from places outside Marion County after October 1, 1940.
These families contained 675 workers and a total of 1700 persons. Migrants
made up a group equal to 5.5 percent of Marion's 1940 population.
Origins
Ohio was the principal source of Marion migrant workers, contributing
68 percent of the total. Michigan was second with 10 percent. Pennsylvania
contributed 4 percent and Indiana, New York, and West "Virginia each contributed
3 percent. The average distance traveled by migrants was 90 miles; only
3 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of nearly one-third of the workers; i.e.,
8 percent had moved from open country and 22 percent from rural villages. Towns
(2,500-25,000 population) contributed 33 percent; small cities, 14 percent and
cities of over 100,000 population, 23 percent.
Seventeen percent of the migrants had formerly lived in Marion. About
half of these former residents had been absent from the city for 7 years or more.
-Qharac te r i s t i c" s
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers in Marion .was 29.7
years. In one-person families the average age was 24.1, and for heads of multi-
person families, 32.3 years. Seven percent of the workers were under 20 years
of ago and 13 percent wero 45 years or over.
A3976
- 2 -
female workers made up 14 percent of all the migrant workers. The
average age of female workers v/as 23.6 years as compared with 31.0 years.for
males.
Race. Negro migrants in Marion made up less' than 0.5 percent of
the total.
Size of Family. ' Migrant families in Marion averaged 2.6 persons
per family. Less than one-third consisted of ono person when interviewed;
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 30
2 persons 28
3 and 4 persons 29
5 parsons and over 13
Some of these families were not complete when interviewed; 34 percent
of the 1-person families and 7 percent of the multiperson families had. left a
spouse or dependent children behind when moving to Marion. Before migration,
the families had contained 1,900 persons. Of these, 89 percent had migrated
ana 11 percent had stayed behind.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants arrived in Marion
during June or earlier:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-April 1941 33
May-June 1941 12
July-August 1941 18
September-October 1941 24
November 1941 12
December 1941 1
Industry and Occupation
The migrant workers came principally from manufacturing, trade and
"othor" services. The proportion coming from agriculture was larger than in
most survey citios, but relatively few of the migrants wore nev; workers. In
Marion, manufacturing was the most important single employer of migrant workers,
followed by "other" services and trade.
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last full-time
jobs at their last residence, and on their jobs when interviewed' in Marion,
was as follows:
A3976
- 3 -
Industry
Total
No job at last residence 1/
Unemployed in Marion
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Iron and steel
Machinery
Other
Transportation, communication and utilitie
Trade
Personal service
Other services
* Less than 0.5 percent
1J The status of these workers at their la
housewives, 1 percent; unemployed, 1
At last residence In Marion
(Percent distribution)
1Q0 100
•9
-
-
8
13
1
3
#
6
3
21
39
5
13
10
19
6
7
12
14
17
16
4
1
15
18
st residence was: students, 5 percent;
percent; others, 2 percent.
A substantial part of the migrants were white-collar workers; before
migration, this group made up one-third, and after migration, two-fifths of the
workers. Skilled and semiskilled workers were attracted to Marion in about
equal numbers.
The occupations of the migrants before and after migration were as
follows:
Occupation At last residence In Marion
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
9
—
Unemployed in Marion
-
8
Professional and semiprofessional
9
10
Proprietors, managers, and officials
7
12
Clerical and kindred workers
17
19
Craftsmen and kindred workers
17
18
Operatives and kindred workers
14
17
Domestic service workers
2
1
Other service workers
7
7
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers -
11
1
Laborers, except farm
7
7
Unemployment
Out of 675 migrant workers in Marion, an estimated 55 workers, or
8 percent, wore unemployed and seeking work during the \/eek prior to interview.
A3976
- 4 -
Unemployment "by Sex. Unemployment among female migrant workers was
more than seven times higher than among males; 30 percent of the females were
unemployed, as compared with 4 percent of the males.
Unemployment "by Age. Workers under 20 years reported the highest
unemployment rate in Marion:
Age of Worker Percent unemployed
Total 8
Under 20 years 14
20-24 years 9
25-44 years 7
45 years and over 7
Unemployment "by Month of Arrival. Workers who arrived in Marion
several months "before the present survey reported the highest unemployment
rates:
Month of arrival Porcont unemployed
Total 8
October 1940-June 1941 6
July-August 1941 3
September-October 1941 14
November 1941 8
December 1941 /
/ Base too small for computation.
Housing
The majority of the migrant families in Marion occupied a separate
dwelling when enumerated. About two-fifths were sharing a dwelling with other
persons, and a few lived in hotels and tourist camps.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
59
81
50
Sharing a dwelling with others
38
12
49
In hotels
2
5
#
In tourist and trailer camps
1
2
1
* Less than 0.5 percent
A3976
- 5 -
Conclusions
The volume of migration into Marion during the first year of the
defense program was moderate; among the 51 cities covered in these surveys,
25 reported a higher migrant rate than Marion, and 25 reported a lower rate
Migrant unemployment in Marion was slightly a"bove the average found in the
other survey cities.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3826
FEDERAL .WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
January 12, 1942
MSlOIJiiPUM
Recent Migration into Wa'rren, Ravenna, and Newton'Falls, Ohio
A survey of migration into Warren, Ravenna, and Newton .Falls,
Ohio, was conducted by the WPA Division of .Research late, in November 1941.
The survey was concerned with civilians who moved into Warren and Newton
Falls from places outside of Trumbull County, and ..into.. Ravenna from places
outside of Portage County, after October 1, 1940., a,nd who were still
living in these cities at the time of the survey, Spe.rating on a sample
basis, the survey covered the residential districts, lower-priced hotels,
and tourist and trailer camps within the corporate limits, .of. the three-
cities. In addition, tourist, and trailer camps. ..in., the ppen country near
the Atlas Powder Plant were surveyed.
Industrial Activity
The principal, defense activity in the .Warren-*Ravenna area during
the 13 months covered by this survey.was the construction.of a huge ordnance
plant in Portage County between Ravenna and Newton Falls. Defense contracts
awarded in connection with this plant were valued at .abp.ut $9.3,000,000
through October, 1941, of which about $65,000,000 was allotted for
construction. During the same period the numerous, established industries
in the area enjoyed substantially .increased activity and .employment. At
. - % * ' '
peak activity, reached in midsummer, the construction job at the arsenal
' * i
employed about 13,000 men. This labor demand was many times greater than
could be supplied by Warren, Ravenna, Nowton Falls, and other nearby towns,
• •
Labor was accordingly attracted from two sources: (a) from among workers
living in Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Canton, and numerous other citios
A3826 — 2 —
within a radius of 50 miles, who commuted tack and.forth between home
and work each day; and (b) from among migrant workers, many of whom
moved into Warren, Rayenna, and Newton Falls,-a^d,.after all. available
housing was occupied, into the more distant cities, such as Akron and
Youngstown.
After midsummer construction employment declined rapidly as
construction workers were laid off. The majority of the migrants departed
for other j~>bs, though some remained in the area for production work at the
completed plant, According to local reports,' attempts were being ma.deat the tin*.
c .
of this survey to induce a greater proportion of the construction workers
to stay at the plant after the last construction work was finished.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,200 families living in Warren, Newton Falls, and
Ravenna in November 194-1 had rtoved to the towns from places outside their
respective counties after October 1, 1940, These families contained
2,250 workers and a total of 4,090 persons. Migrants made up a group eoual
to 7.5 percent of the 1940 population of the three towns.
The survey found an additional 130 families, containing 400
persons, in tourist and trailer camps in the open country near the Atlas
Powder Plant.
In the city of Warren, the estimated num.b'er bf migrants was
2,750, equal to 6.4 percent of Warren's 1940 population. In Ravenna, the
estimated number of migrants was 830, equal to 9.8 per'cent of Ravenna's
1940 population. In Newton Palls, the estimated n'dmber of-migrants was
510, equal to 16,3 percent of its 1940 population.
A3826
- 3 -
Origins
Ohio was the chief source of the migrants,,...eo.jjtjc.ituting
exactly half; and Pennsylvania was second, with 24 percent*' -Five
percent came from West Virginia, and an equal proportion 'from New Yorkj
The average distance traveled by the migrants was; 115 nii'lfes', and only
, « r
5 percent traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of about one-fourth of the
migrants; i<e., 5 percent from open' country and 19 percent from rural vil-
lages. Towns (2,-500 to 25,000 population) contributed 30 percent, small
cities, 17. percent; andcities of over 100,000 population, 29 percent.
Six percent of the families had formerly lived in one of
the thr-co.; survey towns. ' Half Of these families had been absent for
7 years or more before their return.
.Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers in the three
towns was 32.S years. In 1-person families, the-'average Wa'S-'32.9 years,
I'"-.-
and for heads of multi-person families, 33,6-years. Only 6 percent of
r-(
the workers were under 20 years, but 18 percent ware 45'years-and over.
Women workers constituted 13 percent of all 'the.'.migrant workers.
The average age of the women workers v/as 25.6 years, as compared with 33.3
years for men.
Race. Negroes constituted 4 percent of the migrant'workers in
the three towns.
Size of Family. Migrant families in the three towns were rela¬
tively snail, averaging 1.9 persons per family. More than half consisted
of only one person.
A3826
4 -
Size Percent distribution.
Total 100
1 person 55
2 persons 20
3 and 4 persons 19
5 persons and oyer 6
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed;
40 percent of the 1-person families and 8 percent of the multi-person
families had left a spouse or dependent children at their last residence.
' I
Before migration, the families had contained 5,400.persons; of these
76 percent had migrated and 24 percent had remained behind.
Month of arrival. Half of the migrants in the three towns
had arrived during June or earlier;
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total ICO
October 1940-March 1941 21
Xptril-May 1941 15
June-Julyf 1941 23
August-September 1941 20
October 1941 12
November 1941 9
Industry and Occupation
.The two chief industries attracting migrants to the Warren-
Ravenna area were construction and manufacturing, and particularly
manufacturing at the Ravenna arsenal and in Warren steel mills. The
construction workers in the three towns had in most cases been construction
workers at their last residence, but the great majority of the ordnance
manufacturing workers had been engaged at non-manufacturing jobs before
migration. The representation of trade and other service industries
was relatively minor.
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last
A3826
- 5 -
full-time jobs at their last previous residence and on their jobs in
the three towns was as follows:
• -"i
Industry At last'; residence In the three towns
Percent distribution
Total 100 .100
Ho job at last residence 1/ ..9 . ~
Unemployed in "the'three towns 4
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 7 -
Mining ' 4 —
Construction 26 26
Manufacturing 22 • 47
Chemicals 1 26
Iron and" steel 10 14
Other 11 7
Transportation, communication, and
utilities 6 4
Tra.de t 12 8
Personal services 2 2
Other services 12 9
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 4
percent; "too young to work", 2 percent; unemployed, 2 percent; others, 1
percent.
Both before and after'migration, the majority of the migrants
held white-collar and skilled jobs. Operatives were relatively few, but
a rather large proportion of the migrants worked as laborers in the
three towns.
The occupational distribution of the migrants before and
«■».
aftor migration follows:
Occupation At last residence In the three towns
Percent distribution
Total
100
100
0
Ho job at last residence
9
Unemployed in the three towns
-
4
Professional and seniprofesstonal
8
8
Proprietors, managers, and officials
8
6
Clerical end kindred workers
11
13
Craftsmen and kind-red workers
28
30
Operatives and kindred workers
15
13
Domestic service workers
1
1
Other service workers
5
7
Parn. owners, tenants, and. laborers
7
—
Laborers, except farm
8
18
A3826
- 6 -
Unemployment
Out of 2,250 workers in the 'three towns, an estimated 80
workers, or 4 'percent, were unemployed and seeking work at the tine
ox the present survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Among female migrant workers, 13 percent
were unemployed, as compared with 2 percent among males.
Unemployment "by Age. Workers under 20 years reported the
lowest unemployment rate, .-and those over 45 years the highest.
Age of workers Percent unemployed
Total 4
Under 20 years *
20-24 years 2
25-44 years 3
45 years and over 7
■* Less- than 0.5 percent
17 percent, and among white workers, 3 percent, were unemployed.
Unemployment fry Month of Arrival
Migrants who arrived in the three towns just "before the
present survey reported the highest unemployment rates:
Unemployment by Pace. Negroes reported an unemployment
rate more than five tines greater than white \\'orkers. Among Negroes,
Month of arrival
Percent unemployed
Total
4
October 1940-May 1941
June-July 1941
August-September 1941
October 1941
November 1941
2
4
2
7
9
A3826
- 7 -
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation*
The most successful workers among migrants in the Warreh-
Ravenna area were: new: workers, and those, engaged, in farming and
transportation at their.last residence. Construction and manufacturing
workers reported "below-average unemployment. Workers from the trade
industries were least successful. Unemployment rates hy industry at'
last residence, follow!
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in three towns
Total 4
No job *
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing *
Mining -f
Construction 3
Manufacturing 2
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 12
Personal services -f
(J>ther -.services • 4
* Less than 0.5 percent
•f Saso too small for computation
farm workers, and non-farm laborers reported very little unemployment
in the three towns, and only the domestic and other service workers
reported exceptionally severe unemployment. Unemployment rates by
occupation at last residence were as follows:
In terms of occupations, the clerks, craftsmen, operative
Occupation at last residence
Percent unemployed in three towns
Total
4
No job
Professional and'.semiprofessibnal. ■
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic- and other service workers
Par.ni owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
* Less than 0.5 percent.
5
9
3
2
3
19
*
*
#
A3826
Housing
The great majority of .the migrant families in the three
towns had doubled up with dther' personlB; about one-fourth were
occupying separate living quarters; a relatively large number were
living in tourist and trailer camps; and a few lived in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-oerson families Ifolti-pereon
families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
27
6
53
Sharing a dwelling v/ith ■•others
64
09
32
In hotels
2
4
*
In tourist and trailer camps
7
1
15
* Less than 0.5 percent..
Conclusions
Although the volume of recent migration .into Warren, Ravenna,
and Hewton Palls has been very large in terms of the resident population,
* ! t f
the thr'ee towns have not grown with such impressive speed as numerous
other war-boom cities. The migrant rate for the three towns,.for examle,
is only about one-quarter that of San Diego, about one-third that of
Burlingtsn, Iowa, another arsenal site, and substantially less than that
of several army camp towns in the South and Southwest. The explanation
appears to lie in the fact that the Ravenna arsenal has depended upon long¬
distance commuters for a great part of its labor. Approximately 1,jOc,j00
workers live within a 50 mile radius of the Ravenna arsenal, and these
workers, rather than migrant workers, are the chief present source of labor
for the arsenal.
PEDERAL WORKS AG-EUCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A39 64
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
MEMORANDUM February 11, 1942
Recent Migration into Muskogee. Oklahoma
A survey of migration into Muskogee, Oklahoma, was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during October 1940. The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Muskogee from places outside
Muskogee County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living there
at the time of this survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey
covered, the residential districts, trailer and tourist camps, and lower
priced hotels within the corporate limits of Muskogee. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Muskogee is not an active defense center. Between June 1940
and October 1941, Muskogee County received defense contracts valued at
about $300,000, and equal to only about 2 percent of the 1937 value of
manufactures in the county. According to local reports, a considerable
number of workers had left the city to seek work elsewhere during the
first year of the defense program.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 700 families living in Muskogee at the time of
this survey had moved to the city from places outside of Muskogee County
after October 1, 1940. These families contained 800 workers and a total
of 1,850 persons. Migrants made up a group equal to 5.7 percent of
Muskogee's 1940 population.
Origins
Oklahoma was the predominant source of Muskogee migrants,
contributing 64 percent of the total. Texas was the second most important
source, with 18 percent. Kansas and Missouri each contributed 4 percent;
and 2 percent moved from California. The average distance traveled by
the migrants was 85 miles; 11 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of about one-third of the workers;
i.e., 4 percent came from open country and 28 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 31 percent; small cities,
8 percent; and cities of over 100,000 population, 29 percent.
More than one-third (34 persent) of the workers were former
Muskogee residents. About half of these workers had been absent from the
city for 3 years or more.
A C64
- 2
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers in Muskogee
was 31.6 years. In 1-person families, the average was 30.3 years,
and for heads of multi-person families, 33.1 years. Six percent of
the workers were under 20 years, and 16 percent were 45 years and over.
Female workers constituted 30 percent of all the workers.
The average age of females was 31.3 years, as compared with 31.7 years,
for males.
Race. Ten percent of the Muskogee migrants were Negroes.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Muskogee averaged 2.6
persons per family. Only one-quarter of the families contained one
person when interviewed:
Size of Family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 25
2 persons 28
3 and 4 persons 36
5 uersons and over 11
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; however,
20 percent of the 1-person families and 6 percent of the multi-person
families had left a spouse or dependent children behind when moving to
Muskogee. Before migration, the families had contained 1,900 persons.
Of these, 97 percent had migrated and 3 percent had remained behind.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants arrived in
Muskogee during July or earlier:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-February 1941 15
March-April 1941 16
May-Jtme 1941 17
July-August 1941 26
September 1941 20
October 1941 6
Industry and Occupation
Both before and after migration, Muskogee migrant workers
were principally engaged in construction, trade, and personal and "other"
services. A relatively large proportion held no jobs at their last
residence, but relatively few were drawn from agriculture. Very few
migrants engaged in manufacturing.
A3864
- 3 -
The industrial distribution of the migrants on their last
full-time jobs at their last residence and on their jobs when interviewed
in Muskogee was as follows:
Industry At last residence In Muskogee
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1J
15
Unemployed in Muskogee
-
13
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
8
4
Mining
*
*
Construction
14
15
Manufacturing
5
7
Transportation, communication and
utilities
5
5
Trade
18
17
Personal service
10
8
Other services
25
30
* Less than 0.05 percent
1J The status of these workers at their last residence was as follows:
students, 3 percent; housewives, 3 percent; unemployed, 5 percent; and
others, 4 percent.
The largest single occupational group among the migrants
consisted of white-collar workers, who accounted for well over two-fifths
of the workers both before and after migration. Craftsmen were
considerably more numerous than operatives among the migrants. The
proportion of non-farm laborers was very small.
The occupations of the migrants before and after migration
were as follows:
Occupation At last residence In Muskogee
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
15
-
Unemployed in Muskogee
—
13
Professional and semiprofessional
16
18
Proprietors, managers, and officials
9
9
Clerical and kindred workers
18
17
Craftsmen and kindred workers
14
14
Operatives and kindred workers
8
10
Domestic service workers
7
5
Other service workers
4
6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
8
3
Laborers, except farm
1
5
A3964
- 4 -
Unemployment
Out of 1,850 migrant workers, an estimated 240 workers, or
13 percent were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding
interview.
Unemployment hy Sex. Among female migrants, 18 percent
were unemployed, as compared with 10 percent for males.
Unemployment by Pace. Muskogee is the only city among the 51
surveyed in which Negroes reported a lower rate of unemployment than white
workers. Among Negroes, 8 percent were unemployed; among white workers,
14 percent were unemployed.
Unemployed "by Age. The highest unemployment rate was reported
"by workers under 20 years. Workers 45 years and over reported about
average unemployment.
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 13
Under 20 years 21
20-24 years 9
25-44 years 13
45 years and over 14
Unemployment "by Industry and Occupation
The least successful migrants in Muskogee were those from farming.
Personal service workers, as usual, reported well above average unemployment.
The most successful workers were those from manufacturing and transportation.
Bates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Muskogee
Total
No job 13
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 32
Mining f
Construction 9
Manufacturing
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 13
Personal service 19
Other services ?
/ Base too small for computation.
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3964
- 5 -
In terms of occupations, the least successful workers were
farm and domestic service workers. Operative, professional, and proprietory
workers reported the lowest unemployment rates. Rates hy occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Muskogee
Total 13
No job 13
Professional and semiprofessional 6
Proprietors, managers, and officials 5
Clerical and kindred workers 15
Craftsmen and kindred workers 10
Operatives and kindred workers 3
Domestic and other service workers 26
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 32
Laborers, except farm f
{■ Base too small for computation.
Housing
The great majority of the migrant families occupied separate dwell¬
ings when enumerated. Less than one-quarter had doubled up with, other persons.
A few families lived in hotels and tourist camps.
Living arrangements Total 1--person families Multi-person families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
70
18
89
Sharing a dwelling with others
22
58
10
In hotels
6
22
#
In tourist and trailer camps
2
2
1
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The volume of migration attracted to Muskogee during the first year
of the defense program was relatively large, amounting (in terms of the resi¬
dent population) to a greater volume than that reported for such cities as
South Bend, Portland, Maine, and San Francisco, all cities upon which the
defense program had a far greater impact than upon Muskogee.
As in Oklahoma City, however, Muskogee was apparently losing popu¬
lation as a result of out-migration about as fast as new workers were arriving.
In April 1940, the Census found that 4.1 percent of Muskogee's dwellings were
vacant. In October 1941, in spite of the in-migration found by this survey,
the gross vacancy rate had actually increased, and stood at 5.8 percent.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3 791
FEDERAL'WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 26, 19^1
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A survey of migration into Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, -was con¬
ducted by the WPA Division of Research during September 19^1. The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Oklahoma City from places outside of
Oklahoma County after October 1, 19^0, and who were" still living there in
September 19Ul. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered residential
districts, rooming-house districts, lower-priced hotels, and tourist and
trailer camps within the corporate limits of the city. Higher-priced hotels
were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information about persons
who had left the city during the period covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Between June 19U0 and October 19U1, Oklahoma County received
prime defense contracts valued at about $25,000,000, and equal to one-third
the 1937 value of manufactures in the county. Practically the entire sum was
allotted f®r the construction of facilities, and principally for an air corps
base and supply depot. Between September 19U0 and September 19hl, manufacturing
employment in Oklahoma City increased 22.7 percent, giving the city only 52nd
rank in rate of increase among 8U American cities.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 5,000 families living in Oklahoma City at the time'"
of this survey .had moved to the city after October 1, 19U0. These families
contained 5,000 workers and a total of 12,900 persons. Migrants made up a
group equal to 6.3 percent of Oklahoma City's I9I4O population.
Origins
Oklahoma was the chief source of Oklahoma city migrants, contributing
60 percent. Texas was second with 16 peroent, and Kansas third with If percent.
Three percent had come from Missouri, 3 percent from Arkansas, and 2 percent
from California. , The average distance traveled by the migrants was 120 miles,
and 11 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of 27 percent of the families; i.e., 5
percent came from open country and 22 percent from rural villages.—•■Tovfljs (2,500
to 25,000 population) contributed Ul percent; small cities, 9 percent; and cities
ef over 10.0,000 population, 23 peroent.
A relatively large proportion (Ul percent) of the families had
formerly lived in Oklahoma City. Half of these families had been absent from
the city for 3 years or more.
Characteristic s
Age and Sex. The average age of Oklahoma City.migrant workers was
30.5 years. In 1-person families the average was 2U.0 years, and for heads of
A3 791
- 2 -
multiperson families, 32.8 years. Eight percent of all workers were under 20
years, and 13 percent were US or over.
Women workers made up 22 percent of all migrant workers. The
average age of women workers was 21*. 9 years, as compared with 31.5 years for men.
Race. One percent of the migrants were Negroes, and less than one-
half of 1 percent were Indian.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Oklahoma City were relatively
large, averaging 2.6 persons per family.
Size of family in Oklahoma City percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 28
2 persons 27
3 and 1* persons 36
5 persons and over 9
Most of these families were complete when interviewed. Only 10
percent of the 1-person families and<2.percent of the-multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved .to Oklahoma
City, Before migration, the families had contained 13,300 persons. Of these,
97 percent had migrated and 3 percent had remained at the migrants' places of
origin.
Month »f Arrival. Half of the migrants arrived in Oklahoma City
about U months or more before the present survey.
#
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19l*0-January 19^1 20
February-March 19lil 12
April-May 19l*l 16
June-July I9I4I 27
August 191*1 18
September 19l*l 7
Industry and Occupation
The two chief industries among the migrants were trade and "other"
services, which occupied about twd-fifths of the workers both at last resi¬
dence and in Oklahoma City. The proportion of migrants who had left jobs in
agriculture was not particularly large, and manufacturing was relative^ unim¬
portant both before and after migration. A relatively large proportion of •
the workers held no jobs at their last residence.
The industrial distribution of the workers according to their last
full-time jobs at. last residence and their jobs when interviewed in Oklahoma
City was as follows:
A3 791
. -3 -
Industry At last residence In Oklahoma City
(Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence l/ -1.7
Unemployed in Oklahoma Ci£y
-
15
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
9
%
Mining
6
5
Construction
8
9
Manufacturing
11
15
Transportation, communication, and utilities
6
7
Trade
23
2h
Personal services
3
6
Other services
17
19
*- Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: Students, 7
percent: unemployed, U percent; housewives, 3 percent; and others,
3 percent.
Oklahoma migrants were principally engaged in clerical and operative
occupations before and after migration. The proportion of skilled workers was
relatively small, and there were few migrants working as laborers in Oklahoma
City. The principal occupational shifts were from farm work at last residence
to operative jobs, and from "no job" at last residence to clerical work in
Oklahoma City.
The occupational distribution of the migrants at last residence and
in Oklahoma City follows:
Occupation At last residence In Oklahoma City
(Percent distribution")
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
17
Unemployed in Oklahoma City
-
15
Professional and semiprofessional
5
6
Proprietors, managers, and officials
12
10
Clerical and-kindred workers
19
21
Craftsmen and kindred workers
10
11
Operatives and kindred workers
18
21
Domestic service
2
3
Other service workers
h
7
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
9
Laborers, except farm
k
6
* Less than 0.5 percent
Unemployment
Out of 5,000 migrant workers in Oklahoma City, an estimated ?50
A3 791
- k -
workers, or 15 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar
week preceding this survey. In other recently surveyed cities, migrant unem¬
ployment has ranged from 3 percent to 17 percent.
t *
Unemployment by Sex. Among female migrant workers, 29 percent vrere
unemployed, as compared with 11 percent among males.
Unemployment by Race. Among Negro migrant workers, 35 percent were
unemployed, as compared with 15 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Age. The highest unemployment rates were reported
by workers under 20 years and those hS years and over*
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 15
Under 20 years 30
20 to 2h years 16
25 to UU years 12
U5 years and over 20
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. More than two-fifths of the
workers who arrived in Oklahoma City immediately preceding this survey were
unemployed.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 15
October 19h0-January I9I4I 18
February-May 19hl 7
June-July 1914-1 12
August 19l|l 20
September 19bl 1*2
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation
Highest unemployment rates were reported by workers who held jobs
in manufacturing and personal service industries at their last residence.
Rates well below average were reported by workers from mining (i.e., oil-field
workers), construction and transportation. Unemployment rates by industry
follow:
A3 791
- $ -
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Oklahoma City
Total 15
No job 18
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 111
Mining *
Construction 10
Manufacturing 29
Transportation, communication, and utilities 2
Trade 15
Personal services 27
Other services 13
v- Less than 0.5 percent.
In terms of occupation, domestic and other service workers and
non-farm laborers had fared worst in Oklahoma City. Farm workers and opera¬
tives reported about average unemployment, and the lowest rates were reported
by clerks and craftsmen. Rates by occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Oklahoma City
Total 15
No job 18
Professional and proprietory workers 111
Clerical and kindred workers 9
Craftsmen and kindred workers. 7
Operatives and kindred workers 15
Domestic service workers 1|0
.Other service workers 36
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers ill
Laborers, except farm 30
Housing
The great majority of the migrants found separate living quarters
in Oklahoma City:
Living arrangements Total 1-person families Multiperson fam.
(Percent distribution)
Total
10Q
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling unit
67-
16
88
Sharing a dwelling with others
29
Ik
11
In hotels
3
10
In tourist and trailer camps
1
-
1
-*'Less than 0,5 percent
A3 791
- 6 -
Conclusions
Oklahoma City attracted a large flow of migrants during the period
covered by the present survey. In terms of its population, it received roughly
twice the volume of in-migration attracted to such important defense centers
as Baltimore and Indianapolis, and about the same volume of Bridgeport, Connec¬
ticut, one of the most active defense cities in the Nation.
There is evidence, however, that Oklahoma City's net population gain
was considerably less than its gain from in-migration during this period. In
April 19^0, the Census found that 7.7 percent of the dwelling units in Okla¬
homa City were vacant. But in December 19hl* the gross vacancy rate was still
high, standing at about 6.0 percent, according to preliminary results of a
WPA survey. Oklahoma City residents were apparently departing from the city
about as rapidly as migrants were arriving.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3 935
FEDERAL w'CAKS AGENCY
Work .Projects Administration
February- 7, 19b2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Johnstown, Pennsylvania
A survey of migration into Johnstown, Pa., was conducted by the
WPA Division of Research in October I9I4I. The survey was concerned with
civilians who moved to Johnstown from places outside of Cambria County- after
October 1, 19U0, and who were still living there at the time of the survey.
Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the- residential districts and
lower priced hotels within the corporate limits of Johnstown, Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather infor nation about
persons who left the-city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Although Johnstown had received practically no direct defense con¬
tracts at the time of this survey, the local iron and steel, industry was ex¬
tremely active with indirect defense orders. The number of persons employed
in Johnstown increased by lt,500 between October Ipli-O and October 19hl, re¬
absorbing a larger proportion of the local unemployed and attracting a number
of outside workers to the city. According: to local reports-, however, the great
majority of the out-of-city workers originated within Cambria County.
Number of Migrants
. Approximately 350 families living in Johnstown at the time of the
WPA survey had moved to the city from places outside Cambria County after
October 1, 19U0. These families contained h$0 workers and a "total of 700
persons. Migrants made up a group equal to 1,0 percent of Johnstown1 s 19l|0
population.
Origins
Pennsylvania was the principal source of Johnstown migrants, con¬
tributing 65 percent of the total. Lest Virginia was second, with 7 percent,
and New York third with 6 percent. The average distance traveled by the
migrants was 90 miles, and only 10 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of about one-quarter of the migrants;
i.e., 8 percent came from open country and 15 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000) were the source of 37 percent; ll; percent came from
small cities; and 26 percent from cities of over 100,000' population.
_ More 'than one-fourth (27 percent) of the' families had formerly lived
in Johnstown. About half of these families load been absent- for 6 years" or
more.
A3935
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and Sex, The average age of migrant workers in Johnstown was
32,5 years. In 1-person families, the average was 29.6 years, and for heads
of multiperson families, 36.0 years. Eleven percent of the workers vrere
under 20 years, and 13 percent were li5 years and over.
Ten percent of the migrant workers were females. The average age
of female workers was 33.5 years, and. for males, 32,2 years.
Race. Negroes constituted 6 .percent of the Johnstown migrants, and
•white persons constituted 9li percent.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Johnstown averaged 1.9 persons
per family. Nearly half consisted of one person.
Size of Family in Johnstown Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 1|8
2 persons 23
3 and 1| persons 19
5 persons and over 10
A number of these families were not complete when interviewed; 29
percent of the 1-person families and 17 percent of the multiperson families
had left- a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved to Johnstown.
Before migration the families had contained 850 persons. Of these, 82 percent
had migrated and 18 percent had remained behind.
Month of Arrival. About half of the Johnstown migrants had arrived
during August or later."
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19ii0-Pebruary 19lil la
March-April 19U1 8
May-June 19i|l 19
July-August 19Ul 35
September 19Ul .19
October 19Ul 3
Industry and Occupation
. Johnstown migrants were engaged principally in manufacturing, trans¬
portation, trade, and "other" services at their last residences. A small
proportion were engaged in mining, but very few had been farm workers. The
proportion of new workers among the migrants was also unusually small. In
Johnstown, steel manufacturing became the principal industry of the migrants
but a sizable proportion was also engaged in construction, transportation,
trade, and "other" services.
A3 93 5
- 3 -
The industrial attachment of the workers on their last full-time
jobs at their last residence and on their jobs when intervie?ired in Johnstown
was as follows:
Industry , At last residence In: Johnstown
■ 1 (Percent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job' at last residence 1/
6
-
Unemployed, in Johnstown ~
-
7
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
3'
1
Mihing
8
2
Construction
lk
10
Manufacturing
21
illl
Iron,
3
3
Other-
16
9
Transportation, communication and utilities
III
10
Trade
17
10
Domestic service
2
1'
Other services
15
15
1/ The status of these.workers at their last residence was: students
6 percent; all-ethers-, less than 0.5 percent.
White-collar workers constituted the largest single broad occupa¬
tional group among the migrants, accounting for 32 percent of'-the.-total before
migration and 25 percent in Johnstown. Both before and after migration,
operatives were the second most important occupational group, and craftsmen
were third. There was a sizable shift, however, into laborers' jobs, and.
the proportion working as laborers in Johnstown was uncommonly large-.
The occupational distribution of the workers before and after mi¬
gration was as follows:
Occupation At last residence In Johnstown
Tpercent ciistribut-io'n)
Total ' 100 100
No job at last residence
6
-
Unemployed in Johnstown
-
•7
Professional and semiprofessional
6
5
Proprietors, managers, and officials
8
7
Clerical and kindred workers
18
13.
Craftsmen and kindred workers
16
19
Operatives and kindred workers
28
2h
Domestic service workers
2
1
Other service workers
5
6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
3
Laborers, except farm
8
18
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3 93 5
- U -
Unemployment
Out of 1+50 migrant workers in Johnstown, an estimated 30 workers, or
7 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding interview.
Unemployment by Sex. Female migrants reported about five times higher
unemployment than males. Among females, 21+ percent, and among males, 5 percent,
were unemployed.
Unemployment by Race. Negroes reported about seven times higher
unemployment than white vrorkers. Among Negroes, 33 percent were unemployed,
as compared with 5 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Age. Unemployment was reported by 11 percent of
the vrorkers under 20 years, 11 percent of those aged 20-31+ years, and 1 percent
of those 35 years and over.
Unemployment by Nonth of Arrival. Unemployment was highest''among
the workers who had arrived in Johnstown during the months just preceding the
WPA survey.
Month of arrival
?otal
Percent unemployed
7
October 19l+0-April 191+1
May-June 191+1
6
July-August 191+1 '
7
September 191+1
16
October 191+1
13
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Housing
The majority of the migrant families in Johnstown had doubled up
with other persons. About one-fourth occupied separate living quarters, and
about one-fifth lived in hotels.
Living arrangements Total
Total 100
Occupying a separate dwelling 28
Sharing a dwelling with others 52
In hotels 19
In trailers 1
1-person multiperson
families families
(Percent' distribution)
100 100
11
1+7
39
3
1+1+
56
#
* Less than 0.5 percent
A3 935
. 5 -
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Johnstown from places outside
Cambria County was unusually small during the first year of the defense program.
Among the $1 cities covered in this survey, none reported a lower migrant rate
than Johnstown. By comparison with the migrants in other cities, however,
Johnstown migrants reported about average success in finding jobs.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3575
J3E3RAL FORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
November 25, 1941
IlkORANDUlI
Recent Migration into Philadelphia
_ in*
A survey of migration into Philadelphia was conducted by the FPA
Division of Research during September 1941. The survey was concerned with
persons who moved to Philadelphia from places outside of Philadelphia County
after October 1, 1940, and who were still living in the survey area in
September 1941. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the resi¬
dential districts, the rooming-house districts, and hotels within the Phila¬
delphia City limits. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt
was made to gather information about persons who had left Philadelphia during
the survey period.
Industrial Activity
The Philadelphia, industrial area, including Camden, N. J., ranks
second in the United States in the value of direct defense contracts received,
with total awards of about $1,200,000,000 between June 1940 and September 1941.
Philadelphia County itself ha.s received about $500,000,000 of this sum, and
ranks among the top half-a-dozen counties in the United States in terms of
total defense contracts.
Philadelphia assumes a less spectacular position, however, when
the value of its defense contracts is compared with the value of its manu¬
factures in 1937. In San Diego, for example, the value of defense contracts
to date is about 12 times greater than the value of 1937 manufactures, and in
Wichita 6 times greater. But in Philadelphia the value of defense contracts
to date is equal to only about one-third the value of manufactures in 1937.
A3575
-2-
PhilecLelphia's index of manufacturing employment rose 25.9 percent between
August 1940 and 1941, but this increase put Philadelphia in only 55th
place among 84 American cities.
A year ago, when the defense program was just getting under way,
the Philadelphia labor market contained a huge backlog of unemployed workers.
Since then, defense activity has, of course, drawn a great number of the unem¬
ployed back into private industry. But in September 1941 (when the present
survey was conducted), there was still an abnormally large group of unemployed
in Philadelphia, estimated to number about 80,000 workers.
Under these conditions, Philadelphia has not to date drawn, exten¬
sively upon other labor markets for workers.
Uurnber of Migrants
Approximately 10,900 families living in Philadelphia in September
1941 had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. These families contained
12,900 workers and 19,800 persons. Migrants made up a group equal to 1.0
percent of Philadelphia's 1940 population. In terms of its population, Phila¬
delphia has received less than one-third as much migration as Baltimore, and
only one-twentieth as much as Wichita, Kansas.
Origins
More than half-(54 percent) of the Philadelphia migrants originated
in the State of Pennsylvania, hew York was second with 14 percent; Mew Jersey
third with 9 percent; and Maryland fourth with 3 percent. The average dis¬
tance traveled was only 80 miles. Ten percent of the migrants had traveled
more than 500 miles, and a small proportion—Canadians and European refugees—
had come from foreign countries.
Rural places, i.e., places of less than 2,500 population, were
A3575
~3~
the source of 21 percent of the Philadelphia migrants; 5 percent had come
from the open country and 16 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500
to 25,000 population) contributed 32 percent, small cities, 17 percent,
and 30 percent came from cities of over 100,000 population.
75 percent reported no previous Philadelphia residence. Among the 25 percent
who formerly lived in Philadelphia, half had been absent for about 7 years.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers in the migrant families
was 29.7 yeans. In 1-person families, the average was 26.5 years; and for
heads of multiperson families, 33.7 years. Workers under 20 years made up
8 percent of all workers, and those over 45 made up 11 percent.
Women workers made up 22 percent of all the Philadelphia migrant
workers. The average age of the women workers was 24.1 yeans, as compared
with the 31.0 years for the men.
Race. Negroes constituted 6 percent of the Philadelphia migrants.
The migrant rate (based upon Philadelphia's 1940 population) was 0.4 percent
for nonwhite persons, as against 1.1 percent for white persons.
Size of Family. The majority of the Philadelphia migrants con¬
sisted of only one person when interviewed in Philadelphia:
The majority of the migrants had not lived in Philadelphia before;
Size of family in Philadelphia
Percent distribution
Total
100
1 person
2 persons
3 and 4 persons
5 -persons or more
60
19
15
6
A3575
-4-
A substantial number of these families, however, were not complete
when interviewed; 27 percent of the 1-person families and 6 percent of the
multiperson families had left a spoxise or dependent children behind when they
moved to Philadelphia. Before migration the families contained 22,830 persons.
Of these 19,800 had migrated and 3,030 had remained at the migrants' place of
origin.
Months hived in County. A distribution of the migrant wox-kers
according to the month of their arrival in Philadelphia was as follows:
Month of arrival Percent of Philadelphia migrants
Total 100
October 1940-January 1941 22
February-May 1941 27
June-July 1941 20
August 1941 11
September 1941 20
Industry and Occupation
The industrial distribution of Philadelphia migrants on their last
full—time job at their last place of residence, and on their jobs when inter¬
viewed in Philadelphia, was as follows:
At last In
Industry residence Philadelphia
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
Ho job at last residence 1/
18
Unemployed in Philadelphia
-
8
Agriculture, forests, and fishing
2
*
Mining
6
—
Construction
11
8
Manuf ac t uring:
23 .
44
Machinery
3
10
Transportation equipment
4
16
Other
16
18
Transportation, communication & utilities
5
4
Trade
15
14
Personal services
6
5
Other services
14
17
*' Less than 0.5 percent
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: students, 11 percent-
housewives, 1 percent; and unemployed 6 percent.
A3575
-5-
Before migration, tho Philadelphia migrants were principally engaged
in manufacturing, trade, and "other" service industries, or were students out¬
side the labor market. A few were miners, but only a very few were farmers.
After migration to Philadelphia, the proportion engaged in manufacturing nearly
doubled, with especially marked increases for those engaged in the manufacture
of transportation equipment (e.g., shipbuilding) and machinery. Nearly one-
third of the migrants were engaged in the trade and "other" service industries
in Philadelphia.
The occupational distribution of the workers at last residence and
in Philadelphia was as f ollows:
At last residence In Philadelphia.
Occupation (percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
18
Unemployed in Philadelphia.
8
Professional and semiprofcssional
5
7
Proprietors, managers, and officials
8
8
Clerical and kindred workers
15
14
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
22
27
Operatives and kindred workers
19
24
Domestic service workers
3
1
O''hor service workers
6
6
P.u-m owners, tenants, and laborers
1
~
Laborers, except farm
2
5
The movement of workers into Philadelphia was principally a move¬
ment of clerks, craftsmen, and operatives. These throe occupations engaged
56 percent of the migrant workers before migration, and 65 percent in Philadel¬
phia. Pew workers iircro drawn from the unskilled categories and few wore work-
ing at unskilled jobs in Philadelphia.
Unemployment
Out of 12,900 migrant workers in Philadelphia, 1,080 or 8 percent
A3575
-6-
were unemployed, and seeking work during the calendar week prior to interview.
The comparable unemployment rates for other recently surveyed cities are:
Baltimore, 3 percent; Greenville, S.C., 9 percent; and Wichita, Kans., 13
percent.
Unemployment "by Sex. Women workers among the migrants reported
more than five times the unemployment rate of the men. Among the women, 23
percent were unemployed; among the men, 4 percent.
Unemployment "by Race. Negro migrants reported about 7 times the
unemployment rate of white workers. Among Negroes, 46 percent were unemployed
as against 7 percent for white persons.
Unemployment by Ago. The most successful Philadelphia migrants
were those aged 20 to 24 years and, peculiarly enough, those over 45; and
the least successful x^ere the workers under 20. Workers aged 25 to 44 re¬
ported about the average rate of unemployraent. Unemployment rates by age
were as follows!
Percent unemployed
Age of workers in Philadelphia
Total 8
Under 20 years 29
20-24 years 3
25-29 years 9
30-34 years 9
35-44 years 9
45 years and over 1
Unemployment by Distance Traveled. The workers who traveled the
shortest distance reported the lowest unemployment rate, and the unemployment
rate increased progressively with increased distance.
A3575 -7-
Percent unemployed
Distance traveled in Philadelphia
Total 8
Less than 100 miles 4
100-199 miles 4
200-499 miles 16
500 miles and over 30
Foreign 33
Unemployment "by Month of Entering County. The highest unemployment
rate was reported by the workers who had arrived in Philadelphia most recently:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Philadlnhia
Total 8
October 1940-January 1941 3
February-May 1941 7
June-July 1941 6
August 1941 6
September 1941 21
Unemnloyment by Industry and Occupation. Particularly high unem¬
ployment rates were reported by workers engaged in agriculture, transporta¬
tion, and domestic service industries at their last residence. Very low rates
were reported by workers from mining, construction manufacturing, trade, and
"other" service industries. Unemployment according to industry was as follows:
Industry at last residence Percent unemnloyed in Philadelphia
Total 8
No job 13
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 31
Mining -
Construction 2
Manufacturing 5
Transportation, communication and utilities 26
Trade 4
Domestic services 35
Other services 1
In terms of occupation the highest unemployment rates were reported
by workers engaged in personal service and farming occupations at le.st residence.
The lowest ro.tes were for craftsmen and unskilled non-farm workers.
A3575
-8'
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Philaxlelphna
Total 8
ITo job 13
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 6
Craftsmen and kindred workers 1
Operatives and kindred workers 6
Personal service workers 50
Other service workers 11
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers 44
Laborers, except farm -
Housing
Only about one-third of all the migrant families were occupying
a separate dwelling in Philadelphia; 57 percent were sharing a dwelling unit
with other persons, and 11 percent were in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-nerson families Multi-person families
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separa.te
dwelling 32
8
59
Sharing a dwelling
57
75
30
In hotels
11
17
1
Conclusion
In spite of huge defense contracts, Philadelphia attracted a relatively
small number of migrant workers during the first year of the defense program.
The reason is clear: at the time of the present survey, new industrial
activity had not yet exhausted the supply of locally available unemployed
workers, particularly unemployed -unskilled workers. Unlike several other sur¬
vey cities, Philadelphia had scarcely begun to draw workers out of the agri¬
cultural labor supply; and the few migrants it did attract were principally
clerks, craftsmen, and operatives from nearby urban communities.
A38U5a
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
MEMORANDUM January 20, 19k?
Recent Migration into Pittsburgh, Pa., and Environs
A survey of migration into Pittsburgh, Pa., and' into 93 other
cities 1/ in Allegheny County was completed by the Vi/PA Division of Research
at the end of November 19hl. The survey was concerned with civilians who
had moved into the survey cities after October 1, 19^0, and who \vere still
living there at the time of the survey. Operating on a sample .basis, the
survey covered the residential districts, rooming-house districts, defense
housing projects, trailer camps, and lower-priced hotels within the survey
area. Higher-priced hotels were-not surveyed, and no attempt was made to-
secure information about persons who left the survey cities during the
period covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Between June 19U0 and October 19hl> Allegheny County received, prime
defense contracts valued at about 9290,000,000, This sum was equal, however,
to only about one-fifth of the countyks 1937 value of manufactures, a rela¬
tively small proportion by comparison with many of the Nation's other important
war-production centers.
In part because of recent technological changes in the steel industry,
the new defense activity created fewer jobs in the Pittsburgh area than might be
supposed. Between October 19t0 and October 19Ul, manufacturing employment
in Pittsburgh increased 22.7 percent, but 90 of the 8U largest American
cities showed a greater increase during the same period.
Number of Migrants
An estimated 8,700 families living in Pittsburgh and its environs
moved there after October 1, 19^0. These families contained 17,900 persons
and a total of 8,800 workers. Migrants made up a group equal to 1.6 percent
of the 19U0 population-of these cities. The migrants were distributed as
follows:
Area Families 'Yorkers Persons
Pittsburgh li,600 U,300 8,900
93 neighboring cities U,100 1^,000 9,000
The migrant rate for the city of Pittsburgh was 1,3 percent, and
for the other 93 cities, 2.1 percent.
1/ These cities were: (Monongahela Valley) Braddock,. Chalfont, Clairton,
Dravosburg, Duquesne, East Pittsburgh, East McKeesport, Edgewood,
Elizabeth', Forest Hills, Gl-assport, Homestead, McKeesport, Ifunhall, North
'Braddock, Port Vue, Pitcairn, Rankin, Swissvale, Turtle Creek, Wall Boro,
West Elizabeth, West Homestead, Whitaker, Wilmerding. (continued on next
page)
A3 31??.
- 2 -
Origins
Pennsylvania was the most important source of the migrants, con¬
tributing $2 percent of the total. Ohio was the second most important
source with 10 percent, followed by New York and West Virginia, each con¬
tributing 6 percent. Illinois was the origin of 3 percent of the workers
and the District of Columbia contributed 2 percent. The average distance
traveled by the migrant workers was 100 miles. Only a small proportion,
9 percent, traveled<500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of 27 percent of the migrants, i.e.,
3 percent came from, .open country and 2U percent from rural villages. Tovms
(2,500 to 25,000 population) were the origin of 33. percent; 1? percent came
from cities of 25,000 to 100,000 population;' and .2?.percent came from cities
of over 100,000 population.
One fifth of-the migrants had formerly been Pittsburgh residents.
About half of "these had'been absent for h years before their return, to .the
city.
Characteristics
Sex and Age. The average age of migrant workers"in"Pittsburgh
and environs was 28.5 years. For 1-person families the average was 27.6
years; and for heads .of multiperson families 31.6 years. Ten percent of
the workers were under 20 years of - age, and 10 .percent were bb years end
over.
Women workers made up 17 percent of all workers. The average age
of women workers was 2li.O years, as compared with 29.9 years for men.
Race. Compared with other recently surveyed cities, Pittsburgh
attracted a large proportion of Negroes; Negroes made up.8 percent of the
migrants.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Pittsburgh and environs
averaged 270 persons. In the 53 neighboring cities, migrant families con¬
tained on the average 2.2 persons, and in Pittsburgh, 1.5 persons.
SizS of family in Pittsburgh and environs. Percent distribution
Total
100
1 person
53
2 persons
19
3 and b persons
22
5 persons or more
6
1/ (continued) (Allegheny Valley) Arnold, Aspinwall, Blawnox, Brackenridge,
Cheswick, Etna, Millvale, New Kensington (includes Parnassum), Oakmont,
Reserve Township, Sharp-sburg, Springdalc, Tarentum,- Verona. (Ohio Valley)
Avalon, Bellevue, Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights/ CoVaopolis, Edge'worth,
Emsworth, Glenfiold, Haysville, Leetsdale, McKees Rpcks, Osborne, Sewickley,
St owe. Township. Mount" Oliver is included with the city of Pittsburgh.
A38U5a
- 3 -
Most of those families mrr complete when interviewed; however 18
percent of the 1-pcrson families .and Ij. percent of the multipcrson families
had left a spouse or dependent children at their former residences. Before
migration the families contained 19,200 persons of whom 91 percent had mi¬
grated and 9 percent had stayed at the migrants' previous residences.
Month of Arrival. Almost half of the workers arrived in Pittsburgh
within the five months immediately preceding this survey.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total
100
October 19h0-March 19U1
17
April-May 19U1
15
June-July 19lil
20
August 19Ul
13
September 19hl
12
October I9I4I
12
November I9I4I
11
Industry and Occupation
No one industry predominated among Pittsburgh-area migrants at
their previous residence. Manufacturing was the largest single industry, but
it supplied only about one-fifth of the migrants. New workers, and workers
from construction, transportation, trade, personal service, and "other" ser¬
vice industries each contributed a sizable group of migrants. Mining and
agriculture were only minor sources of migrant workers. In the Pittsburgh-
area, manufacturing was by far the largest employer _of-migrant workers,
followed by transportation, construction, and trade.
The following table shows the industrial distribution of the Mi¬
grants on their last full-time jobs at their last residence and on their jobs
-men interviewed in the Pittsburgh area.
At last In Pittsburgh
Ire ue try residence and environs
^ -stributi0n)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/
Hi
-
Unemployed in Pittsburgh
-
9
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
5
•1
Mining
6
Construction
12
10
Manufacturing
20
U3
Iron and steel
~s
2Z
Other
12
17
Transportation, communication and utilities
10
11
Trade
10
10
Personal service
9
8
Other services
Hi
8
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 9 per-
~ cent; unemployed, 3 percent; and others, 2 percent.
Less than 0.5 percent.
A3815a
-1-
Both before and after migration, Pittsburgh migrants were principally
engaged as clerks, craftsmen, and operatives. The proportion of craftsmen
increased slightly after migration. A relatively high proportion of the mi¬
grants held unskilled jobs in Pittsburgh.
The occupational distribution of the migrants before and after
migration follows:
Occupation
Total
No jcb at last residence
Unemployed in Pittsburgh
At last In Pittsburgh
residonco and environs
' (Percent distribution)
100 100
11
9
Professional and semiprofessional
' 9
10
Proprietors, managers, and officials
1
5
Clerical and kindred workers
1.5.
11
Craftsmen and kindred vrorkers
13
17
Operatives and kindred workers
17
15
Domestic service workers
5
7
Other service workers •
6
5
Farm owners,- tenants, and laborers
5
Laborers, except farm
12
18
& Less than 0.5 percent.
Unemployment
Out of 8,800 migrant workers in the Pittsburgh area, an estimated
800 workers, or 9 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week
preceding this survey. In the city of Pittsburgh, 8 percent of the workers
were unemployed, as compared with 10 percent in the other Allegheny County
ciies surveyed.
Unemployment by Sex. No appreciable difference in unemployment
r-.es was reported by male and female migrants. Among males, 9 percent were
r i'-wioloyed, as compared with 10 percent for females.
Unemployment by Race.. Negroes reported more than four times the
unemployment rate of white workers. Among the Negro migrants, 29 percent,
and among white migrants, 7 'percent, were -unemployed.
Unemployment, by Age. Migrant workers 15 years and over showed
relatively high unemployment in the Pittsburgh area.
Age of worker Percent unemployed
Total 9
Under 20 years 8
20-2k years 9
25-11 years ®
15 years and over 1^
A38It5a
-5-
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers who arrived in the
Pittsburgh area shortly before the present survey reported the highest rates
of unemployment:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Total 9
October 19l;0-May 19)4.1 5
June-July I9I4.I 6
August-September 19Ul 7
October 19Ul 21
November 19iil 16
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. The most successful
migrants in the Pittsburgh area were new workers, and Workers from trade
were least successful. Workers from agriculture, mining, and manufacturing
reported about average unemployment. Unemployment rates by industry follow:
Industry at last residence "Percent unemployed in Pittsburgh area
Total 9
No job It
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 7
Mining 8
Construction 11
Manufacturing 9
Transportation, communication and utilities 10
Trade 16
Personal service 7
Other services 10
In terms of occupations, craftsmen reported unemployment well
below average in the Pittsburgh area, and white-collar and semiskilled
workers vfere slightly below average. Non-farm laborers reported the highest
unemployment rate. Rates by occupation follow: .
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Pittsburgh area
Total 9
No j ob U
Professional and semiprofessional 7
Proprietors, managers, and officials 7
Clerical and kindred workers 9
■Craftsmen and kindred workers 5
Operatives and kindred workers 7
Domestic and other service workers 18
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 7
Laborers, except farm 26
A38ii5a
-6-
Housing
The majority of the migrant families .in the Pittsburgh area were
doubled up with other families when interviewed. Less than one-third occupied
separate living quarters. An exceptionally large number,-most of them in
the city of Pittsburgh, lived in hotels; and a few families in the survey
cities outside of Pittsburgh lived in tourist and trailer camps. The follow¬
ing tables show the living arrangements of the migrant families:
1. All Families
In 53 neighboring
Living arrangements Total In Pittsburgh cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
31
23
37
Sharing a dwelling with' others
51
1x8
5ix
In hotels
16
25
5
In tourist and trailer camps
2
-
h
2. One-Person
Families
*
In 53 neighboring
Living arrangements
Total
In Pittsburgh
cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
6
1
11
Snaring a dwelling with others
66
79
In hotels
28
U5
• 10
In tourist and trailer camps
*
-
-*
* Less than 0,5 percent.
3. Multiperson Families
In 53 neighboring )
,
Living arrangements
Total
In Pittsburgh
cities
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
60
60
60
Sharing _ a. dwelling with othe rs
3h
3?
32
In hotels
1.
1
1
In tourist and trailer camps-
5
-
7
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Pittsburgh and vicinity has
been Exceptionally small. Out ox Uq cities for which recent migrant data are
available, only two (Philadelphia and Johnstown-, Pa.,) reported a lower mi¬
grant rate than Pittsburgh and. the neighboring Allegheny County cities. In
terms of resident populations, Pittsburgh attracted about half as many
migrants as Baltimore, one-third as many as Houston, one-fourth as many as
Los Angeles, one-seventh as many as Seattle.
A38L5a
-7-
Pittsburgh migrants had not been particularly successful in finding
work. Among the hh cities covered in this survey, only 12 reported higher
migrant unemployment rates than Pittsburgh and its environs.
' FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3913
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 5, 19U.2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Washington, Pennsylvania,
A.survey of migration into Washington, Pennsylvania was conducted by
the Y/PA Division of Research during the latter part .of .November 19^1* The
survey was concerned with civilians who moved to Washington from places out¬
side of Washington County after October 1, 19h0, and who were still living
there when this survey was conducted. Operating on a sample basis the survey
covered-the residential districts arid lower priced hotels within the corporate
limits of the city. Higher priced hotels were not covered and no attempt was
made to gather information about persons who left the city during the survey
period.
Industrial Activity
Between June 19^0 and October 19Ul Washington County received over
$8,000,000 in direct defense contracts. Nearly f>5,000,000 of this-sum was
contracted for supply items and $>3,000,000 for facilities. ..Defense contracts,
however, were equal to only about one-sixteenth of the 1937 product value of
manufactures in the county. According to local reports employment under the
impetus :of defense work has increased substantially over 19h0 levels, and
shortages were, claimed in some skilled categories.
Number of Migrant's
An estimated 290 families containing .700 persons and 290 workers
living within the corporate limits of Washington at the time of this survey
had moved to the city after October 1, 19U0. Migrants made up a group equal
to 2.8 percent of the city's population in 19h0:
Origins
Pennsylvania was the most important source of migrant workers, contribut¬
ing 59 percent. Ohio was the second most important source with 13 percent, and
West Virginia was third with 11 percent. The average distance traveled by
migrants was 100 miles and only 7 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) were the former residence of L5
percent of the migrants. Twenty percent came from cities of 100,000 or more
population; 19 percent came from rural places (i.e., 1 percent moved from
open country and 18 percent from rural villages); and 16 percent moved from
cities of 25,000 to 100,000 population.
Returning Washington residents comprised a relatively high proportion,
30 percent, of the migrant families. Of these former residents, about half
had been absent from the-city for 2 years or more.
A3 913
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of migrant workers was 30.6 years. For
one-person families the average was 29.9, ydars and for heads of multiperson
families 32.5 years. Only 3 percent of the workers were under 20 years of age
but 2k percent, an unusually high percentage, were k5 years of age or over.
Women workers comprised one-fourth of the migrant labor force. Women
workers were on the average 26.3 years of age and men were 32.8 years.
Race. Negroes comprised 10 percent of the migrants, and white persons
comprised 90 percent.
Size of Family. Migrant families average 2.5 persons. Fewer than
one-third of the families were composed of one person.
Size of family in Washington Percent'distribution
Total 100
1 person 32
2 persons 26
3 and k persons 31
5 persons or more 11
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed; 33 percent
of the one-person families and 18 percent of the multiperson families had
left a spouse or dependent children at their former residences. Before migra¬
tion the families had contained nearly 900 persons, 8k percent of whom had
migrated and 16 percent had remained at the migrants' last residences.
Month of Arrival. Nearly half of the migrant workers arrived in
Yfashington during the k months preceding this survey.
Month of arrival
Percent distribution
Total
100
October 19k0-March 19kl
20
April-May 19kl
9
June-July 19bl
25
August 19kl
11
September 19kl
12
October 19kl
15
November 19kl
8
Industry and Occupation
Both before and after migration,
Washington migrants were engaged
principally in "other" services, manufacturing, and trade. Only a very snail
group of workers were drawn from agriculture and mining, but new workers made
up a substantial proportion of the migrants.
The industrial distribution of the migrant workers on their last full-
A3 913
- 3 -
time jobs at their last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in
Washington was as follows;
Industry At last residence In Washington
~ (Percent (distribution)-'
Total 100 100
No job at last residence 1/
lii
—
Unemployed in Washington
-
lh
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3
Mining
2
k'
Construction
10
5
Manufacturing
21
21
Stone, .clay, and. glass products
~E
3
Iron and steel and their products
T
6'
Other manufacturing
■8
10
Transportation, -communication, and utilities
8
10
Trade " " """*' '
15
13
Personal services
7
A
Other services
20
2h
Less than 0.5 percent
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence wast Students
9 percent; housewives 1 percent; unemployed 2 percent'; and others 2
percent.
White-collar workers made up the largest .single occupational group
among the Vfashington migrants, accounting for 3.7 percent before migration
and kh percent in ITashington. There were' also many-operatives' among the
migrants, but skilled workers'v/dre relatively few, . Art 'unusually small pro¬
portion of the migrants held' laborers jobs in Pashinrt'ori-
Occupations before .and after migration were as follows;
Occupation At last residence In Washington
(Percent distrIbutionl
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Washington
Professional and semiprpfessional
Proprietors, managers/ and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen, foremen,..and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred, workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
A
—
A
12'
20
8'
7
17'
17
12
13
19
.19
If
3
5
k
3'
6
3
* Less than 0,5 percent.
A3913
- 4 -
Unemployment
Out of 290 migrant workers in Washington, an estimated 40 workers,
or 14 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week
preceding interview.
Unemployment "by Sex. Over one-fourth (26 percent) of the women
migrant workers were -unemployed at the time of the survey. Among the men the
unemployment rate was 10 percent.
Unemployment "by Race> Unemployment was more than, three times
heavior among Negro workers than among white workers, .Among Negroid 37
percent were unemployed compared with 11 percent among white workers.
Unemployment "by Age. -Workers 45 years, of age or over were the
least successful in Washington,
Age of worker Percent unemployed in Washington
Total 14
Under 20 years /
20-24 years 15
25-44 years 13
45 years or over 18
•f Base too small for computation.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. The rate of unemployment was
heaviest among workers who arrived in Washington in the^ survey month and
in the month prior to it. It was also heavy, however, among migrants who
had "been in the city for six months or more. Unemployment rates "by month
of arrival in Washington were as follows:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Washington
Total 14
October 1940-March 1941 11
April-May 1941 12
June-July 1941 13
August 1941 10
September 1941 9
October 1941 21
November 1941 29
Unemployment by Industry anfl (V.irnpntinn. Workers from construction,
manufacturing, and "other" services were the least successful in finding jobs
in Washington, New workers and those connected with trade reported much lower
than average unemployment.
A3913
- 5 -
Industry at last residences Percent unemployed in Washington
Total 14
No job 7
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing <f
Mining i
Construction 22
Manufacturing 11
Transportation, communicatl on', and utilities /
Trade 7
Personal services /
Other services 11
/ Base too small for computation. .
Clerks",' 'draftsmen, .and operatives all reported unusually high
unemployment in Washington, while least unemployment was reported hy new
workers and professional workers. Rates hy occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Washington
Total 14
No job 7
Professional and semiprofessional *
Proprietors, managers, and officials /
Clerical and kindred workers 19
Craftsmen and kindred workers 18
Operatives and kindred workers 22
Domestic service workers •/
Other service workers •/
Barm owners, tenants, and laborers ■/
Laborers, other than farm ■/
•/ Base too small for computation
* Less than 0.5 percent
Housing
Well over one-half of the migrant families were sharing a dwelling
with other persons in, Washington; less than two-fifths were occupying an
entire dwelling unit; and a few were living in hotels at the time of interview.
Living arrangements Total l-persou families Multiperson families
^Percent distribution)
Total 100 100 100
Occupying a separate dwelling 37 13 48
Sharing a dwelling with others 61 79 52
In hotels 28 -
A3913
- 6 -
Conclusions
In spite of reports of greatly increased local industrial activity,
Washington, Pa., attracted relatively few migrant workers during the first
year of the defense program. Pew as they wore, however, the workers were
notably unsuccessful in finding jobs. Among 38 eastern cities surveyed,
only Atlanta showed a higher migrant unemployment rate- than Washington,
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects A/imini strati on
Division of Research
A3 519
FEDERAL CORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
~ November $, i.9h^
memorandum
Recent Migration into Greater Greenville, S. C.
A survey of migration into Greater Greenville, S. C., was com¬
pleted by the WPA Division of Research at the end ox September 19U1. The sur¬
vey was concerned with persons who moved into Greater Greenville from places
outside of Greenville County after October 1, 19^0, and who were still living
there a year later. Every section of the area was represented in the survey,
with the exception of higher priced hotels. No attempt was made to gather
information about persons who had left Greenville during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Greenville is not a center of large-scale direct defense activity.
Between June 19ilG and August 19Ul, Greenville County received prime defense
contracts valued, at about two million dollars, equal to only 3 percent of the
1939 value of manufactures in the county. In the State of South Carolina during
the same period, defense contracts equalled 55 percent of the 1939 value of
manufactures.
Indirect defense orders, however, and the general increase in the
demand for cotton goods have recently brought extraordinary activity to the
Greenville textile mills. Textile production has been increasing rapidly for
the past two years, and particularly 'within the past nine months. According
to local reports, unemployment in Greenville decreased about 50 percent between
September I9J4O and September 19lil. Earl;/ in 19hl three-shift mill operation
1/ Originally, the City of Greenville was laid out in the form of a perfect
circle with a radius of 1 mile. The population long since overran this boundary,
but the original limits were never changed.. Today Greenville proper contains
less than half of the 75*000 population of the compact economic unit known as
"Greater Greenville." Greater Greenville is not a political unit, but it has
"city limits" accepted by common usage.
A3 515
-2-
became the general rule, and by the time of the present survey, Greenville
was enjoying one of the most active periods in its history.
Number of Migrants
in response to this activity approximately 1,050 families had
moved to Greater Greenville from places outside of Greenville County Between
October 19i;0 and September 19Ul, and were still living there in September
19lil. These families contained 1,090 workers and 2,1;50 persons. Migrants
made up a group equal to 3.2 percent of the 19l|0 population of Greater Green¬
ville .
Greenville proper contained fevrer migrants than that part of Greater
Greenville lying outside the Greenville city limits5 U|. percent of the migrants
lived inside the city limits and 56 percent lived outside. The migration rate
was also slightly higher outside. Migrants in Greenville proper equalled 3.0
percent of the I9I4O population. In Greater Greenville outside the city limits,
the migration rate was 3.1; percent.
Origins
The great majority of the migrants had come to Greenville from
nearby mountain and Piedmont counties in South Carolina, North Carolina, and
Georgia. A sizeable minority of workers, particularly those in the service
industries, had migrated from Atlanta, Charlotte, and Knoxville. Practically
none had come from the Tidewater,
The distance travelled by Greenville migrants was relatively short,
averaging about 70 miles, By comparison, the average distance travelled by
Baltimore migrants was 170 miles; and by Detroit migrants, 3l;0 miles.
-3-
Rural places, i.e., places of less than 2,5>00 population, con¬
tributed about one-fourth of the migrants. Most of these (2k percent) came
from villages, and only 2 percent came from open country. Towns (2,500 to
25,000 population) contributed lf3 percent; small cities, 18 percent; and cities
of over 100,000 population, 13 percent.
Most of the migrant families had not lived in Greenville before;
only 25 percent reported previous Greenville residence. Among the families
who formerly lived in Greenville, about half had been absent for 5 years or
more..
Characteristics
Age and Sex. Greenville migrants were exceptionally young. The
average age of all workers in the migrant families was 26.0 years. Among
single workers, the average was 23.1 years; in multipcrson families, the
average age of heads was 32.3 years.
Because Greenville is a cotton-mill city, a relatively large pro¬
portion of the migrant workers (28 percent) were women. Women were still
undcrrepresented among the migrants, however, since Greenville contains an
even larger proportion of women in its resident labor supply.
Race. There was a striking underrepresentation of Negroes among
the Greenville migrants; Negroes constituted only 5 percent of all the mi¬
grants. The migrant rate (based upon Greenville's 19)40 population) was 0.6
percent for Negroes, as against I4.I percent for white persons.
Months Lived in County. A distribution of workers according to
the month of their arrival in Greenville follows:
A3 515
-]j-
Month of arrival Percent of Greenville Migrants
Total 100
October - December, 19U0 19
January - February, 19i|l 13
March - April, 19Ul lU
May - June, I9J4I 12
July - August, 19i|l 27
September 19UI 10
Industry and Occupation
The industrial distribution of Greenville migrant workers on their
last full-time job at their last place of residence, and on their jobs in
Greenville, was as follows:
At last
Industry residence In Greenville
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence i/
Ik
Unemployed in Greenville
-
8
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
9
1
Construction
6
5
Manufacturing
3I4
1|3
Textiles
~2H
37
Other
6
6
Transportation, Communication, and
public utilities
3
9
Trade
13
13
Finance, insurance, and real estate
2
5
Personal services
2
3
Other services
12
13
1/ The status at last residence of these workers was: students, 9 percent;
housewives, 3 percent; and others, 2 percent.
Both before and after migration, the majority of Greenville migrants
were engaged either in textile manufacturing, or in trade and in "other"
service industries. Two principal industrial shifts accompanied the migration
of the workers; first, a shift out of agriculture into textile manufacturing,
and second, a shift from non-worker status at last residence (principally
A35l5
-5-
involving students) into finance, insurance, and real estate and into "other"
service industries.
The movement of workers into Greenville was predominantly a migration
of clerks and cotton-mill operatives. There were few craftsmen among the
migrants, and very few unskilled workers. The occupational distribution of
Greenville migrants before migration and at the time of interview was as follows:
At last place
Occupation of residence In Greenville
(percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
1U
Unemployed in Greenville
-
8
Professional and semiprofessional
9
9
Other, proprietors, managers, and officials
3
3
Clerical, sales, and kindred, workers
17
26
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
11
10
Operatives and kindred workers
30
38
Domestic service workers
*/C
Other service workers
5
u
Farm owners, managers, and laborers
3
a
_L
Laborers, except farm
3
1
* Less than 0.5 percent
Unemployment
Out of 1,090 migrant workers in Greenville, a total of 95, or
9 percent, were unemployed and seeking work at the time of the survey. Com¬
parative figures for migrants in other cities are: Akron (April), 10 percent;
Chicago (May), 20 percent; Fort Wayne, Ind. (May), 3 percent; Detroit (June),
10 percent; and Baltimore (September), 3 percent.
Unemployment by Race. The rate of unemployment for the few Negroes
who migrated to Greenville was nearly five times greater than for white workers.
Among Negroes, 33 percent, and among white workers, 7 percent, were unemployed.
A3515
-6-
Unemployment by Sox. Women migrants to Greenville had three times
the unemployment rate of males. Among the women migrants, 15 percent were
unemployed; among the men, 5 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. The age group 2$~kk suffered least unemploy¬
ment in Greenville, and the highest unemployment rate was that of the very .
young and the very old. Among workers, under 25, the unemployment rate was 13
percent; for those aged 2%~kh years, 1; percent; and for those lj.5 years and
over, 17 percent.
Unemployment by Size of Place of Origin. The migrants from rural
places reported the highest unemployment rate, 13 percent. Among migrants
from towns (2,500 to 25,000 population), the rate of unemployment was U percent;
and for migrants from places of over 25,000 population, 9 percent.
Unemployment by Month of Entering County. Greenville migrants who
had arrived during September 19Ul, the month during which the survey was con¬
ducted, reported the highest unemployment rate; 13 percent of these latest
arrivals were unemployed. Among those who arrived during June and August,
k percent were unemployed: and among those who arrived between October I9J4.O
and May I9I4.I, inclusive, 8 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment bj Industry and Occupation. Workers engaged in textile
manufacturing, trade, finance, and transportation and communication industries
at their last place of residence before migration reported little or no unem¬
ployment in Greenville. The highest rates were reported by workers from the
personal service and construction industries, and by workers who held no job
at last residence (i.e., former students, housewives, unemployed, etc.). The
unemployment rates by industry follow:
A3515
- 7 -
Industry at Last Residence Percent unemployed in Greenville
Total 9
Ho jo"o 18
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 9
Construction 25
Manufacturing: £
Textile manufactuning 3
Other manufacturing 7
Transportation and communication —
Trade 3
Finance, insurance, and real estate —
Personal services 33
Other services 7
In terms of occupation the highest unemployment rates were reported
"by persons who had "been skilled workers at last residence, by persons from
non-farm laborers jobs, and persons without jobs at last residence. The
rates by broad occupational groups follows
Occupation at last residence Percent of Unemployment, Greenville
Total 9
Ho job 18
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 3
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 18
Operatives and kindred workers 3
Domestic and other service workers 15
Farm owners, managers, and laborers 9
Laborers, except farm 9
Housing
About one—third of the migrant families wore occupying a separate
dwelling,in Greenville and more than throe—fifths had doubled up with othor
families. Even among the multi—person families, the majority had doubled up
with othor families. Only a small number of migrants were living in hotels,
and none lived in tourist or trailer camps.
A35l5
-8-
l~person Multiperson
Living arrangements Total iam.ilies .. am.!! ies
' ("percent distribution)
Total
100
33
67
Occupying separate dwelling
35
3
32
Sharing dwelling
62
27
35
In hotels
3
3
—
Only a very few of these families had moved to Greenville without
all family members. One migrant family in hO had left dependents behind at
the place of origin, and dependents who had not migrated with their families
totaled persons.
Conclusion
During the 1530's, Greenville's growth resulting from in-migration
was rapid. In the decade, the population of the city increased 19.1 percent,
considerably more than expected natural increase. In this period, Greenville's
Negro population increased much faster than the white population.
Rapid in-migration into Greenville has continued through the first
year of the National Defense Program, but with an important difference.
During the past year the in-migration of Negroes has dwindled to insignificance,
and has been overshadowed by a large influx of white millhands and clerks. One
important reason for this shift may be seen in the widely divergent rates of
unemployment reported by different groups of Greenville migrant, workers.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3704
FEDERAL WORK S/iG-EEC Y
Work Projects Adnf!& strati on
December 17, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Nashville. Tennessee
A survey of migration into Nashville, Tennessee was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during late September" and early October
1941. The survey was concerned with persons who moved to Nashville-from
places outside of Davidson Countjr after October ly 1940, and'who were
still living in Nashville at the time of the survey." Operating on a
sample basis, the survey covered the residential" district's, - arid lower-
priced hotels within the city limits. Higher priced hotels were not
surveyed and no attempt was made to gather information about persons who
had left Nashville during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Between June- 1940 and September 1941, Nashville received direct
defense contracts-valued at approximately $40,000,000 and equal to about
one-third the--1937 value of manufacturers in Davidson County. A part of
this-sum was allotted-for the construction of aircraft production facilities,
but the bulk of 'it was for supply items, particularly for army clothing-
contracts.
As a result of this activity, Nashville was enjoying a..moderate
increase in industrial activity at the time of the- present, survey. Between
September 1940 and September 1941,'manufacturing employment' increased 20.5
percent. This increase, however,' placed Nashville in only 63rd rank among
84 American cities. Except for a few categories of skilled workers (such
as welders, sh'eet-metal workers, and construction workers), no labor
shortages were reported in Nashville by October 1941.
A3704
*- 2 —
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,800 families, containing 3,000 workers and
a total of 6,600 persons moved to Nashville after October 1, 1940 and
were still living in the city at the time of the survey. Migrants made
up 4.0 percent of the cities' 1940 population.
Origins
Almost two thirds of the migrant workers (63 percent) had
come from Tennessee. Kentucky and Alabama residents made up the next
largest group of migrants each comprising 9 percent of the migrant '
workers. The average distance traveled by migrants was relatively
short, 85 miles; and only 6 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places (less than 2,500 population) were the origin of
two—fifths of the migrants, i.e., 19 percent had come from the open coun¬
try and 21 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population)
contributed 38 percent of the migrants; small cities, 5 percent; and 17
percent had come from cities of 100,000 or more population.
Previous residence in Nashville was reported by about one-fourth
(24 percent) of the migrants. Among former residents half had been absent
from Nashville for 3 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all migrant workers .was 29.6
years. Among the unattached the average age \«;as 2.4.2 years, and among
the family heads, 33.8 years. One migrant v/orker in 12 was under 20 years
of age', and 1 in 10 was 45 years of age or over.
Women constituted 28 percent of all workers, a relatively high-
proportion. Among 17 cities recently surveyed, only one , Greenville,
A3704
- 3 -
South Carolina, reported so large a proportion of women in the migrant
labor force. Women workers were on the average 25.2 years of age and
men were 31.3 years.
Hace. White persons predominated among the migrants, accounting for
92 percent of all migrants. Negroes made up 8 percent of all migrants
and represented 1.2 percent of the 1940 non-white population of Nashville.
The migrant rate for white persons was 5.1 percent.
Size of Family. When interviewed in Nashville about'two-fifths of the
families contained only, one person. A distribution of the migrant families
by size follows:
Size of family in Nashville Percent Distribution
Total 100
1 person 38
2 persons 21
3 and 4 persons 32
5 persons and over 9
Some of the migrant families were not complete units when
interviewed. About one-fifth (19 percent) of the unattached and one—
tenth (1.1 percent) of the multi-person families had left some family memr*
ber behind when they moved to Nashville. Before migration the families
contained 7,400 persons; of these, 89 percent had moved to Nashville arid
11 percent had remained at the families' last residence.
Month 'of Arrival. Half of the migrants had come to Nashville about 6
months or more before the present survey, but more had arrived during July
1941 than during any other single month.
A3704
- 4 r
Month of Arrival Percent Distribution
Total 100
October 1940-January 1941 21
February-March 1941 18
April-May 1941 17
June'1941 10
July 1941 14
August 1941 11
September 1941* 9
* Includes a part of October,
Industry and Occupation
Migration to Nashville involved a narked industrial shift
into■manufacturing, Which abosrbed a particularly large number of former
farm workers and persons who held no jobs at their last residences. Textiles,
clothing, and aircraft were the principal Nashville manufacturing indutsries
employing migrant workers.
The industrial distribution of Nashville migrants on their last
*
full time jobs at their last place of residence, and on their jobs in
Nashville, was as follows;
Industry At last residence In Nashville
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
20
Unemployed in Nashville
-
5
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
19
*
Mining
1
*
Construction
6
7
Manuf ac turing
18
40
Apparel and other fabricated textile
products and textile mill products
9
13
Aircraft and parts
2
8
Other
7
19
Transportation, communication and utilities
5
8
Trade
15
18
Personal Services
5
6
Other services
11.
15
* Less than 0,5 percent,
l/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students,
7 percentj unemployed 9 norcent, housewives 2 percent; and others 2 percent.
A3704
- 5 -
The Occupational distribution of migrants before and after migration was as
follows:
Occupation At last residence In Nashville
(Percent Distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
20
Unemployed in Nashville
6
Professional and semiprofessional
5
6
Proprietors, managers, and officials
6
5
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
12
16
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers
13
19
Operatives and kindred workers
15
30
Domestic service workers
4
3
Other service workers
4
7
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
19
*
Laborers, except farm
2
8
*Less than 0.5 percent
Nashville drew only one-third of its migrant workers from among the|
skilled and semiskilled but it provided almost half of the migrant workers
with skilled and semiskilled jobs. A great part of these new craftsmen
and operatives were recruited from the ranks of farm workers and students.
Unemployment
Of the 3,000 migrant workers, about 180, or 6 percent were
■unemployed and seeking work at the time of this survey. Unemployment rates
for other recently surveyed cities range from 3 percent in Baltimore, Md.,
to 17 percent in Port Smith, Arkansas.
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrant workers in Nashville reported an unemploy¬
ment rate of 9 percent, as compared with 4 percent for men.
Unemployment by Race. Negro migrants reported an unemployment rate of 22 percent,
as compared with 4 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Ago. The youngest and the oldest migrant workers reported
the highest unemployment rates. Of those under 20 years of age 14 percent
A3704
- 6 -
were employed and among those 45 years of ago and over 11 percent were
unemployed. In the groups, aged 20-24 and 25-44 years, 4 percent were
unemployed.
Unemployment h.v Size of Place of Origin. Migrants from large cities
(over 100,000 population) reported throe times the unemployment rates of
other workers.
As the size of place of origin doereased, unemployment decreased
consistently, and the lowest rate (3 percent) was reported for migrants
from the open country.
Percent unemployed
Size of ~pla.ee of origin In Nashville
TotaJ. 6
Open Country 3
RuraJ. villages (less than 2,500) 4
Towns (2,500 to 25,000) 5
Small cities (25,000 to 100,000) -f
Large cities (over 100,000) 15
•f Base too small f or' computation.
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Thero were no gr^at differences in
the ■unemployment rates of workers arriving in Nashvillo at different
periods during the year.
Month of Arriva.1 Percent unemployed in Nashville
Tota.1 6
October 1940-4arch 1241 4
April-May 1941 3
June-July IS41 8
August 1941 7
September 1941 if 7
1/ Includes a. part of October
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. 3xcept for the workers connected
with personal service industries at their last pla.ee of residence, no
industry group reported excessive unemployment in Nashville. Particularly
A$704
- 7 -
low ■unemployment was reported among agricultural, mining, transportation,
and construction workers. Workers who held no job at their last residence
also showed lower than the averrgo rate of unemployment in Nashville.
Unemployment rates "by industry at last residence follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Nashville
Total S
No job 3
Agriculture, forestry and fishing *
Mining *
Construction 5-
Manufacturing 9
Transportation, communication, and utilities *
Trade 6
Personal services 30
Other services 8
* Less than 0.5 percent
In terms of occupation, the highest unemployment rate was
reported by other service, workers (i.e., such workers as practical nurses,
barbers, beauticians, waiters, waitresses, janitors, charwomen, etc., and
protective service- workers). Unemployment among operatives was somewhat
above average, among craftsmen it was about average, and among the white-
collar groups it was very slight. Unemployment rates according to last
occupation were as follows:
Occupation rt last residence Percent unemployed in Nashville
Total 6
No job 3
Professional, proprietary, and clerical 1
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 7
Operatives and kindred workers ' 11
Domestic service workers -f.
Other service workers 24
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers *
Laborers except farm ^
* Less than 0.5 percent
•f Base too small for computation.
A3704
Housing;
Over half of the migrant families were occupying an entire
dwelling unit when interviewed in Nashville. Only a very few were living
in hotels or in trailer or tourist camps.
Living arrangements Total
Total 100
Occupying separate dwelling 60
Sharing a dwelling with others 39
In hotels 1
In trailer or tourist camps *
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In terms of its population, Nashville received a relatively
large influx of migrants during the first year of the defense program. Its
migrant rate was somewhat higher than the rates reported for Baltimore and
Indianapolis, where defense activity is considerably greater. Migrants
seeking work in Nashville hove been generally successful, since few wore
found to be unemployed at the time of this survey.
1—nerson families Multi-person
families
100 100
14 88
84 12
2 *
_ *
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3733
FBDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projocto Administration
December 20, 194-1
Recent Migration into Corpus Chrlsti, Texas
A survey of migration into Corpus Christi, Texas was conducted by
the WPA Division of Research in the latter part of October 1941. The survey
was concerned with civilians who moved to Corpus Christi from places outside
\
of Nueces County after October 1, 1940 and who wore still living there in
October 1941. Operating on a sample "basis, the survey covered residential
districts, lower-pricod hotels, and tourist camps within the city limits of
Corpus Christi. Higher priced hotels were not surveyed and no.attempt was
made to gather information about persons who had left the city during the
period covered by the survey.
Industrial Activity
Between June 1940 and September 1941 Corpus Christi received direct
defense contracts valued at >943,125,000. This entire sum was allotted for the
construction of facilities, principally for the construction of a Naval Air
Station in Corpus Christi and a shipyard a few miles outside the city limits.
General business activity in Corpus Christi, which has already brisk because
of a recent oil boom, has been further intensified, by this defense ,rork.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,900 families, containing 3,200 workers and a total
of 6,400 persons, moved to Corpus Christi from places outside of Nueces County
after October 1, 1940, and wore still living there in October 1941. The total
number of migrants was equal to 11.1 percent of the 1940 population of the city.
A3?33 - 2 -
Origins
Texas supplied throe-fourths of tho migrants in Corpus Christ!.
Oklahoma was the second, most important sourco, contributing 8 percent, and.
Louisiana was the third with 2 percent. The average distance traveled by
migrants was 240 miles; and 23 percent, a relatively large portion, had tre.-el-
ed 500 miles or more.
Towns (places of 2,500 to 25,000 population) were the origin of the
largest proportion of the migrants, 37 percent. Cities of over 100,000 popu¬
lation contributed 28 percent. Sural places contributed 20 percent; i.e. 1
percent came from open country and 19 percent from rural villages. The small¬
est proportion of migrants, 13 percent, came from small cities (25,000 to
100,000 population,)
Only 10 percent of the families report~d previous residence in
Corpus Christi, Among these former residents, about one-half had been absent
for 3 years or more,
Cher actoristies
Ago and Sex. The average age of all migrant workers was 31,9 "cars,
/
The average age of family heads was 35,1 years and of unattached workers 29,5.
Only 7 nor cent of the migrant workers were under 20 years of age, but 15 percent
vrere 45 years or over,
iromen workers constituted a comparatively high proportion, 17 percent,
of the migrant labor force. The average ago of women workers was 24,9 --e.ort, as
against 53,3 years for men.
Race. Mexicans made up 10 percent, llegroes 6 percent, and
white -persons 34 -percent of the Corpus Christi migrants.
Size of Family. Tho average size of the migrant families was 2,2
persons.
A3 733 - 3 -
Size of family in Corpus Christi Percent distribution
Total
100
1 person
h3
2 persons
25
.3 and U persons
26
£ persons and over
6
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; 8 percent of
the 1-person families, however, and 2 percent of the multiperson families had
left a family member behind when they moved to Corpus Christi. Before
migration the families contained 6,600 persons of whom 97 percent migrated
and 3 percent stayed behind at the migrants' last residences. In other sur¬
vey cities, the proportion of family members left behind ranged, from 3 per¬
cent in Greenville, S.C. to 3i| percent in Bridgeport, Conn-.
Month of Arrival in County. About half of the migrants had been in
Corpus Christi for 5 months or more when interviewed. The distribution of
migrants by month of arrival in Nucces County follows:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19'lj.O-February 19kl 26
March-Aoril I9I4I 12
May-June 19lil 13
July-August 19i|l 26
September l$f|l 12
October 19'Ul 1/ 6
l/ Does not include the whole month.
Industry and Occupation
Before and after migration, Corpus Christi migrants wore engaged
principally in construction, trade, and "other" services. The proportion of
manufacturing workers was exceptionally small. There were a few oil. field
A_J (JJ
- u -
workers among the migrants, and ono worker in ten had come from agriculture.
The industrial distribution of tho workers on their last full-time
jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Corpus Christi
was as follows:
Industry At .Last residence In Corpus Christi
~"(Torcent "HTstrib'ution)
Total
100
100
Mo job at last residence 1/
8
Unemployed in Corpus Christi
-
9
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
10
1
Crude petroleum and natural gas production
6
b
Construction
21
2b
Manufacturing
8
8
Transportion, communication, and utilities
5
Trade
21
22
Personal services
6
5
Other services
15
22
1/ Tho status of those workers at last residence was: Students ij. percent;
housewives, 1 percent: unemployed 2 percent: and others 1 percent.
Corpus Christi migrants were principally employed as skilled and
white-collar workers both before and after migration. The most significant
occupational shift after migration occurred among farm workers, who were
mainly employed in Corpus Christi as operatives and ''other" service workers
(janitors, charwomen, barbers and beauticians, Waitresses, etc.) The distri¬
bution of migrants by occupations at their last residence and in Corpus
Christi was as follows:
Occupation At last residence In Corpus Christi
n^nc"ent~"3Tstribution)
Total 100 100
Mo job at last residence
3
-
Unemployed in Corpus Christi
-
9
Professional and semiprofcssional
7
6
Proprietors, managers, and. officials
c
y
8
Clerical, sales, and kindred workers
16
17
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred "workers
25
27
Operatives and kindred workers
13
16
Dome stic service worIcers
3
2
Other service workers
6
6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
5
1
Laborers, except farm
h
3
A3 733
- 5 -
Unemployment
Out of 3,200 migrant workers in Corpus Christi, approximately 290
or 9 percent were seeking work at. the time of the migration survey. In other
*
survey cities, migrant unemployment ranged from 3 percent in Baltimore, Md.,
to 17 percent in Fort Smith, Ark..
Unemployment by Sex. The unemployment rate for women workers was
five times higher than for men. Among women migrants 25 percent were unem¬
ployed, and among men 9 percent.
Unemployment by Race. Negro workers reported approximately twice
the unemployment rate of white workers or of workers of other races. The
unemployment rate for Negroes was 18 percent as compared with 8 percent for
white workers and 10 percent for workers of other races.
Unemployment by Age. Workers in the age group 20-2,5 years reported
the highest unemployment rate, 1$ percent. (Among males in this age group, 5
percent vrcre unemployed.) The workers under 20 :/ears reported the lowest rate,
9 percent. The unemployment rates of the various age groups were as follows:
Age of workers Percent unemployed in Corpus Christi
Unemployment by Distance . Traveled. Unemployment rates increased
as the distance traveled by workers increased. Unemployment rates by distance
traveled are shown below:
Total
Under 20 years
20-25 years
25-55 years
55 years and over
5
15
7
10
Distance traveled
Percent unemployed in Corpus Christi
Total
9
Less than 200 miles
200-599 miles
500-599 miles
1,000 miles and over
8
6
13
Ik
A3 733
- 6 -
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. More than two-fifths of the
workers who came to Corpus Christi during the survey month were unemployed.
VJorkers who had arrived in the city earlier reported progressively lower
unemployment. The tabulation below shows unemployment rate of migrant workers
by month of their arrival in Corpus Christi.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Corpus Christi
Total 9
October 19hO-Fcbruary 19Al 6
March-April 19A1 A
May-June 19Al 6
July-August 19l|l 6
September I9A1 8
October 19A1 1/ ij.2
1/ Docs not include the whole month.
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Personal service workers,
oil-field workers, and those who had no jobs at their last residence reported
the highest unemployment rates. Relatively few construction workers and manu¬
facturing workers were unemployed in Corpus Christi at the time of the survey.
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Corpus Christ!
Total 9
No job 12
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 7
Crude petroleum and natural gas production 13
Construction $
Manufacturing A
Transportation, communication, and utilities- A
Trade 9
Personal services 33
Other services A
In terms of occupations, over half of the domestic service workers
were unemployed in Corpus Christi, "Other" service workers, non-farm laborers,
and clerical workers reported above-average unemployment rates. There were few
unemployed skilled and semiskilled workmen, and few unemployed agricultural
workers in Corpus Christi.
A3733 - 7 -
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Corpus Christ!
Total 9
No job 12
Professional and proprietory 5
Clerical, sales, and kindred -workers 12
Craftsmen, foremen, and kindred workers 3
Operatives and kindred workers 8
Domestic service workers 53
Other service workers 1.6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers k
Laborers, except farm 12
Housing
Half of the migrant families in Corpus Christi had doubled up with
other persons. An exceptionally large number of migrants lived in tourist
and trailer camps.
Living arrangements
Total
1-person families
Multiporson
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
37
2
6h
Sharing a dwelling with others
50
86
22
In hotels
n
JL
2
-
Trailers and tourist camps
12
10
lh
Conclusions
Corpus Christi enjoyed a phenomenal growth between 1920 and 19^0,
its population increasing nearly six-fold during the two decades. The rapid
growth of Corpus Christi continued the first year cf the defense program.
Among 30 cities covered to date by the migration survey, only three—Wichita
Kans., Burlington, Iowa, and Wichita Falls, Texas, showed a higher migrant
rate.
FEDERAL XRKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3865
FEDERAL VdRKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 10, 1941
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Houston. Texas
A survey of migration into Houston, Texas, was completed by
the iJPA Division of Research in mid-October 1941. The survey was con¬
cerned with civilians who moved to Houston from places outside of Harris
County after October 1, 1940, and who were still living in Houston at
the time of the survey. Operating on a sample basis,, the survey covered
the residential districts, rooming house districts, lower-priced hotels,
and tourist camps within the Houston corporate limits. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who left Houston during the survey period.
Industrial Actiyjty
Between June 1940 and September 1941,* Houston received direct
defense contracts 'totalling about $60,000,000, equal to approximately one-
third the value of its manufactures in 1937. More than nine-tenths of the
defense contracts were for the construction of facilities—shipyards, an
aircraft parts factory, ordnance plants, and a flying field. In the
first year of the defense program, a substantial part of Houston1s defense
activity v/as related to the preparation of these facilities..
During the same period,, employment in Houston's manufacturing
industries increased as a direct and indirect result of the defense
program. Between September 1940 and September 1941, the index of factory
employment in Houston increased 25.8 percent, or slightly less than in.
i
Indianapolis, and considerably less than in Baltimore,
A3665
-2-
Number of Migrants
Approximately 6,400 families living in Houston at the time of
the present survey had moved to the city from places outside of Harris
County after October 1, 1940, These families contained 7,100 workers'"and
15,9C0 persons. Migrants made up a group equal to 4,4 percent of Houston's
1940 population.
Or i-ins
Texas was the principal source of Houston migrants, contributing
74 percent of the migrant workers. The next most important sources were
Oklahoma, S percent; Louisiana, 5 porcent; and Illinois, 3 percent. The
average distance traveled by the migrants was 175 miles; 14 percent had
traveled more than 500 miles,
Sural places (less than 3,500 population), were the origin of
one—third ox the migrant workers; i.e., 5 percent had come from the open
country and 28 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 popu¬
lation) contributed 34 percent; small cities 14 percent; and cities of
over 100,000 population, 19 percent.
Less than one-fifth of the families (18 percent) had formerly
lived in Houston, Half of these families had been absent from the city
for 4 years or more.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average age of all workers in the migrant
families was 29.1 years. In 1-person families the average was 24,7 years,
and for heads of multiperson families, 31,5 years, Workers under 20 years
made up 10 percent of the migrants, and those 45 years and over 12 percent,
Women workers made up 19 percent of the Houston migrant worxors.
The average age of women workers was 24,0 years, as compared wioh 29,9
A36S5
-3-
years for the men.
Race. Negroes constituted, 7 percent of tjie Houston migrants, and
Spanish-Americans made up a fraction of I percent. Based .on 1940 population,
the migrant rate for non-white persons was 1.3 percent, as against 5.3 per¬
cent for white persons.
Size of [Family. Migrant families in Houston were relatively large;
only slijhtly more thhn one-fourth consisted of one person, and close to half
contained three persons or more.
Size of family in Houston Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 28
2 persons 26
3 and 4 persons 35
5 persons and over 11
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; only 18
pence .ii \j of the 1-perspn families and 7 percent of the multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children "behind when they moved to;Houston.
Before migration the families had contained 18,850 persons; 94 percent of
these had migrated and 6 percent had stayed at the migrants' last residence.
Month of Arrival. The distribution of migrants according to the
month of their arrival in Houston was as follows:
Month of arrival 'Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-January 1941 18
Pebruary-Mar oh 1941 12
April-May 1941 16
June-July 1941 23
August 1941 16
September 1941 1J 15
1J Includes a part of October 1941
A3665
~4-
Industry and Occu ation
Ho one industry played a predominant part either in supplying Plouston's
migrant workers, or in employing migrant workers after their arrival. A substan¬
tial number of migrants came from each of five industry groups: Agriculture,
construction, manufacturing, trade, and "other" services. In Houston, the most
important employer of migrants was manufacturing, with construction, trc.de, and
"other" services as important secondary employers.
The' industrial attachment of Houston migrant workers on their least
full-time jobs at last residence and- on their jobs when interviewed in Houston
was as follows:
At last
Industry residence In Houston
(Fcrcent distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence l/ 14 -
Unemployed in Houston - 11
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 13 -
Mining 3 1
Construction 12 12
Manufacturing 17 28
Iron and steel 1 8
Transportation equipment 1 5
Other 15 15
Transportation, communication 7 7
Trade 17 18
Domestic service 6 8
Other services 11 14
1J The status of these workers at last residence was: Students,
6 percent; housewives, 2 percent; unemployed, 5 percent; and others, 1 percent.
Both before and after migration, most of the Houston migrants were
engaged in clerical, skilled, and semiskilled occupations. There were two
occupational shifts involved in the migration: farm workers tended to shift
to skilled and semiskilled jobs, and new workers shifted to clerical jobs.
The occupa.tional distribution of the workers at last residence and in Houston
was as follows*:
A3665
Occupation
At last
residence
In Houston
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
Unemployed in Houston
ll
11
Professional and semiprofessional
Proprietors, managers, and officials
Clerical and kindred workers
Craftsmen and kindred workers
Operatives and kindred workers
Domestic service workers
Other service workers
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
Laborers, except farm
6
6
15
16
lh
6
6
12
6
5
18
20
20
It
9
5
7
Unemployment
Out of 7,100 workers in Houston, an estimated 800, or 11 percent,
were -unemployed and seeking work during the calendar week preceding interview,
Unemployment by Sex. Women migrant workers reported, an unemployment
rate three times greater than men. Among the women 2l percent were unemployed;
among the men, 8 percent.
Unemployment by Race. Negro migrants had more than double the unem¬
ployment rate of white workers. Among the Negroes, 22 percent were unemployed,
as compared with 10 percent for white workers.
Unemployment by Age. The highest unemployment rates were reported
by workers under 20 years and by those over 15 years:
Age of workers Percent unemployed in Houston
Total 11
Under 20 years 16
20—2U years
25-11 years
15 years and over
12
9
16
A366$
-6-
Unemployment Month of Arrival, The highest unemployment rates
were reported by workers who arrived in Houston during tho months just
preceding the present survey.
Month of arrival Percent unemployed in Houston
Total 11
October 19li0-January 19^1 9
February-May 19U1 k
June-July 19Ul 12
August 19U1 15
September 19iil 23
A3665
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. In terms of industry at
last residence, the highest unemployment rates were reported by workers former¬
ly engaged in personal service; and workers from agriculture, mining, and con¬
struction were somewhat above average. The lowest rate was reported by workers
who were employed in, manufacturing art their last residences. Rates by industry
follow:
Industry at Last Residence Percent unemployed in Houston
Total 11
No job at last residence 11
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 15
Mining 16
Construction 16
Manufacturing 5
Transportation, communication, and utilities 6
Trade 10
Personal services 32
Other services 6
In terms of occupation at last residence, the highest rates were
•» "■
reported by domestic service workers and operatives. Unemployment was
relatively slight among craftsmen, ''other" service workers, and non-farm
laborers. Rates by industry follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Houston
Total 11
No job at last residence 11
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 7
Craftsmen arid kindred workers 6
Operatives and kindred workers 23
Domestic service workers 39
Other service workers 5
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 16
Laborers, except farm #
* Less than 0,5 percent.
A3665'
-8-
Housing
The majority of the Houston migrant families occupied a separate
dwelling pnit when enumerated. About two-fifths had doubled up with other
families, and a small number were-living in hotels and tourist camps.
1-person Multiperson
Living arrangements Total families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
Sh
1
75
Sharing a dwelling with others
hi
87
23
In hotels
3
12
In tourist and trailer camps
2
*
2
* Less than 0.5 percent
Conclusions
In the 1530's, the speed of Houston's growth was second only to
Washington, D. C. among the largest cities of the country. Its rate of popu¬
lation gain in the depade was 31.5 percent, half again greater than Los
Angeles, and five times greater than Indianapolis and Baltimore. Judging
from the volume of in-migration" during- the past year, Houston's rapid growth
is continuing under the defense program. With proportionately less defense
activity than Baltimore or Indianapolis, Houston nevertheless shows a sub¬
stantially higher rate of recent in-migration than either.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A36S9 FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
December 12, 1941
MEMORANDUM
1 rr*m •
Recent Migration into Wichita Falls. Texas
A survey of migration into Wichita.Falls, Texas, was conducted
by the WPA Division of Research during the third week of October 1941. The
survey was concerned with civilians tyho moved to Wichita Falls from places
outside of Wichita County after October 1,. 1940, and.who were still living
in the city at the time of the.present'survey. Operating on a sample basis,
the survey covered the residential districts, lower-priced hotels, and trailer
camps located within the corporate limits of Wichita Falls. Higher priced
hotels were not surveyed,. and' no attempt was made to gather information about
persons who left the city during' the survey period.
Military Activity in Wichita Falls
The chief factor affecting migration into Wichita Falls during the
period covered by this survey was the construction of Sheppard Field Air Corps
Technical Training School. • According to local estimates, about 15,000 workers
had been employed on this 'job at one time or another. Labor turnover was high,
however, and on October 9, 1941, near the peak of construction, 6,000 workers,
« • \
both local and migrant, were employed on the job. Layoffr„. .first toga'l. during
the week preceding the present survey, when about 1,000 .men were released for
construction jobs in other parts of the State.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 2,100 families living in Wichita Falls at the time of
the present survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. These families
contained 2,200 workers and 5,300 persons. Migrants made up a group equal to
11.8 percent of the 1940 population of Wichita Falls.
A3689 „2~
Origins
More than three-fourths (77 percent) of the Wichita Jails migrants
came from within the State of Texas.. Oklahoma was second most important con¬
tributor, with 14 percent; and Louisiana was third' with.2 percent. The average
distance traveled by the migrants Was 160 miles; 7 percent had traveled
more than 500 miles.
Eural places (less than 2,.600 population) were the source of about
one-quarter of the migrants; i.e., iO percent had come from open country and
16 percent from rural villages. Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed
39 percent; small cities, 17 percent; and cities of over 100,000 population,
18 percent.
About one-sixth (16 percent) of the families had formerly lived in
Wichita Jails. Half of these families had been absent from the city for 4
years or more.
Characteristics
Ago and Sex. The average age of migrant workers in Wichita Jells
was 32.5 years. In 1-person families, the- average was 35.6 years, and for
'heads of multiperson families, 33.9 years. Workers under 20 years me.de up
7 percent of all workors, and those oyer 45 -years made up 15 percent.
Women workers made up 11 percent of all the migrant workers. The
average age of women workers was 24.1 years, as compared with 33.7 years for
men.
Bace. Negroes constituted 5 percent of the migrants, somewhat less
than the proportion of Negroes in the resident population of Wichita Jails; and
2 percent were of "other" races.
Size of Jamily. Migrant families in Wichita Jails were relatively
large, averaging 2.6 persons per family. Less than one—fourth contained one
person.
A3689
-3-
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 24
2 persons 31
3 and. 4 persons 37
5 persons and over 8
A number of these families were not complete when interviewed; 33
percent of the 1-person families and 10 percent of the multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children behind when they moved to Wichita
Palls. Before migration, the families contained 6,100 persons. Of these, 88
percent had migrated,. and 12 percent remained at the migrants' last residence.
Month of Arrival. The distribution of migrants according to the
month of their arrival in Wichita Palls was as follows:
Month' of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-Pebruary 1941 11
March-April 1941 10
May-June 1941 19
July-August 1941 33
Sentember 1941 18
October 1/1941 9
1/ Does not include the full month.
Occupation and Industry
Both before and after migration, construction was the predominant
industry of Wichita Palls migrants. Por every migrant construction worker,
however, there were about two other workers following other industries, par¬
ticularly trade, "other" services, and transportation. Only minor industrial
shifts took place among the migrants in the course of moving to Wichita Palls.
The industrial distribution of migrant workers on their last full-
time jobs at last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Wichita Palls
was as follows:
A3689
Industry
Total
No job at last residence 1/
Unemployed in Wichita Palls
At last
residence In Wichita Palls
(Percent Distribution)
100 100
8
6
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
9
2
Mining
6
5
Construction
35
36
Manufacturing
7
6
Transportation, communication, and
utilities .
6
10
Trade
14
13
Personal services
4
6
Other services
11
16
1/ The status of these workers at last residence was: Students, 2
percent; housewives, 2 percent; and unemployed, 4 percent.
In terms of occupation, the by far largest single group among
the migrants were skilled, workers, with white-collar and semiskilled workers
occupying a secondary'position both before and after migration. A number of
migrants had secured Unskilled jobs in Wichita Palls. The occupational dis-
i
tribution of the migrants before and after migration follow:
At last
Occupation residence In Wichita Palls
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
8
—
Unemployed in Wichita Palls
-
6
Professional and semiprofessional
5
5
Proprietors, managers, and officials
6
5
Clerical and kindred workers
13
14
Craftsmen and kindred workers
34
35
Operatives and kindred workers
12
14
Domestic service workers
3.
3
Other service workers
4
5
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers
8
2
Laborers, except farm
7
11
A3689
-5-
Unem.pl oyment
Out of 2,200 migrant workers in Wichita Falls,- an estimated 130,
or 6 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the entire calendar
week preceding this survey. Comparable figures for migrants in other small
defense—construction cities are: Burlington, Iowa, 3 percent; Macon, Ga#,
11 percent; and Corpus Christi, Texas, 9 percent.
Unemployment by Sex. Unemployment among female migrant workers was
more than four times higher than among males; 21 percent of the females were
unemployed, as compared with 5 percent for males.
Unemployment by Race. Negroes reported more than three times the
unemployment rate of white workers. Among the Negro migrant workers, 17
percent, and among white workers, 5 percent were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. The younger workers (including those aged
. t »
20 through 24 years, ordinarily a low-unemployment ago group) showed the
highest unemployment rates in Wichita Falls. Workers over 45 years showed
average unemployment.
Percent unemployed in
Age of worker Wichita Falls
Total 6
Under 20 years 10
20-24 years 10
25-44 years 4
-if years and over 5
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. The highest unemployment rates
were reported by workers who arrived in Wichita Falls shortly before the
present survey. The migrants who had been in the city longest reported
average unemployment.
A3689
-6-
Percent unemployed in
Month of arrival Wichita Falls
Total 6
October 1940-February 1941 6
March-June 1941 3
July—August 1941 3
September 1941 9
October 1941 17
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Workers who held jobs
in the personal service industries at last residence reported the highest
unemployment rate in Wichita Falls, and workers from agriculture, forestry,
and fishing and mining and workers who held no job at last residence reported
substantially higher than average unemployment rates. Relatively slight unem¬
ployment was reported by workers who engaged in construction, manufacturing,
and "other" service industries at their last residence. Unemployment rates
by industry follow:
Percent unemployed
Industry at last residence in Wichita Falls
Total 6
No job at last residence 10
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10
Mining 10
Construction 2
Manufacturing *
Transportation, communication, and utilities 7
Trade 7
Personal services 26
Other services 4
* Loss than 0.5 percent.
In terms of occupation at last residence, domestic service workers
and non—farm laborers had fared' worst in Wichita Falls. Very low unemployment
rates were reported by craftsmen and white-collar workers. Unemployment among
former farm workers was only slightly above average. Rates by occupation
were as follows:
A3689
- 7 -
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed, in Wichita Tails
Total 6
No job at last residence 10
Professional, proprietory, and clerical 3
Craftsmen and kindred workers 2
Operatives and kindred workers 6
Domestic service workers 38
Other service workers 6
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 8
Laborers, except farm 15
Housing
An exceptionally small proportion of the migrants had found separate
living quarters in Wichita Palls; even among the multiperson families, the great
majority had doubled up with other families. A number of the migrants lived in
trailer and tourist camps.
1-person Multiperson
Living arrangements Total families families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a. separate dwelling
26
9
32
Sharing a dwelling with others
66
87
60
In hotels
1
3
Me
In trailer ana tourist camps
7
1
8
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
In terms of its population, Wichita Palls has recently attracted a
largo influx of migrant workers. Among all the cities surveyed to date, only
one, Wichita, Kansas, reported a higher migrant rate.
The greater part of this movement has occurred during the four months
precding the present survey, and was obviously rcln.tod to the construction of
A3689
- 8 -
Shonpard Fiold. About one-third, of tho migrants were engaged in this
construction work and woro expected to leave tho city at the completion
of tho airfield or beforo. The other two-thirds of the migrants, however,
had been absorbed by tho more pormanont local industries, and many were
to stay on r.s residents of Wichita Falls.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A4005
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
.February 16, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Regent Migration into the Hampton floafls Ar.e.a,, Virginia
A survey of migration into the Hampton Roads Area,
Virginia, was conducted by the WPA Division of Research between
September and November 1941. The survey covered Portsmouth,
completed in September; Norfolk, completed in October; and the
Newport News area (including Hampton and Phoebus), completed
in November. The survey was concerned with civilians who moved
to the survey cities from places outside Warwick, Norfolk, and
Elizabeth City Counties after October 1, 1940, and who were still
living there at the time of this survey. Operating on a sample
basis, the survey covered residential districts, rooming houses,
defense housing projects, lower-priced hotels, and tourist and
trailer camps within or immediately adjacent to the corporate
limits of the five survey cities. Higher-priced hotels were
not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather information
about persons who left the cities during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
The Hampton Roads area is one of the most intensely
active wen-production centers in America. Between June 1940 and
October 1941, the area, received direct defense contracts valued
at over $900,000,000. Defense contracts in Norfolk and Portsmouth
were about five times greater than the value of 1937 manufact¬
ures, and in Newport News, they were nine times greater. Between
November 1940 and November 1941, manufacturing employment in the
area increased 47,4 perpent; among the 84 largest American cities,
only 8 reported a greater increase during the same period.
Number .of Migrants
The number of migrant persons, families, and workers,
and the migrant rates (migrant persons as a percent of 1940
population) in the Hampton Roads area were as follows:
City
Persons
Families
Workers
Rate
Total
31,060
15,500
14,400
12.9
Portsmouth
6,400
2,900
2,950
12.6
Norfolk
16,700
8,400
7,350
11.6
Newport News
7,300
3,850
3,760
19.7
Hampton
400
215
210
7.0
Phoebus
250
135
130
7.2
A4005
- 2 -
In all of the cities except Portsmouth, there were fewer
migrant workers than migrant families. The reason was that a number
of wives ami children,, cpme to the area after October, 1940 to join
family heeds who had moved to the area for jobs before October 1,
1940, In the terms of the definitions used in the survey, such
family heads were not migrants, but their wives and children were.
Origins
The States which contributed the greatest proportion of
Hampton Roads" migrant's' axe shown b'elow'i"
State,
Total
Portsmouth Norfolk
'' No wo or t News
(Percent
di stribution)
Total
100
ioo:
100
100
Georgia
3
4
4
2
New York .
4
5
4-
3
North-Carolina
37
35
37
37
Pennsylvania
3
3
3
2
Virginia
28
21
22
40
West Virginia
4
4
3
3
All other States
21
28
27
13
The majority of the migrants had moved from outside the
State of Virginia, and principally from North Carolina. Newport News
was the only city in which Virginia, was the most important source of
migrants, but even there, only two-fifths originated within the State,
The average distance traveled by migrants to the area was
170 miles. In Portsmouth, the average was 190 miles; in Norfolk,
170 miles; and in Newport News, 150 miles.
An exceptionally high proportion of the migrants came from
rural places, and particularly from the open country.
Size of place of origin Total Portsmotith Norfolk ' Neyoort News aro
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
100
Open country
36
33
35
36
Less than, 2,500
12
13
8
15
2,500-25,000
18
20
18
18
25,000-100,000
16
17
17
16
100,000 and over
18
17
22
15
Characteristics
Age and Sex. Migrant workers in the Newport News area were
exceptionally young, averaging only slightly over 26 years. Although
somev/hat older, the migrants in the othbr two cities still averaged less
than 30 years of age. The average (median) age of the workers was as
follows:
AhOOS
Type of worker Total
All workers 28.2
Male workers 29.0
Female workers 2iu5
1-person families 25-5
Heads of multi-
person families 30.5
_ 3 _
Average age (years)
Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
29.It
31.1
23.7
27.3
31.8
29.1
30. k
21.9
26.8
30.7
26.3
26.7
2k.k
2k. 1
■ 29. h
Female workers made up 16 percent of all the migrant.workers
in the Hampton Roads area. In Portsmouth, females made up lh percent;
in Norfolk, 20 percent, and in the Newport News area, 13 percent.
Race. Negroes comprised J_5 percent of the migrants in the
entire survey area. In Portsmouth, Negroes comprised 18 percent; in
Norfolk, lit percent, and in the Newport News area, 16 percent.
Size of family. When interviewed, migrant families in the
Hampton Roads area averaged 1.9 persons per family. In Portsmouth, the
families averaged 2.1 persons' at interview; in Norfolk, 2.0 persons;
and in the Newport News area, 1.9 persons.
The following table shows the number of persons in the
migrant families;
Size of family
Total Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
(Percent distribution")
Total
100
100
100
100
1 person
52
kQ
52
56
2 persons
22
22
23
20
3 and Ij. persons
21
23
21
19'
5 persons and over
5
7
k
5
Many of these families were not complete when interviewed;
in the entire area, 2k percent of the ,1-person families and 12 percent
of the multi-person families had left a spoxise or dependent children
behind when moving to the five cities, Before migration, the families
had contained 36,100 persons, of whom 86 percent migrated and lli percent
stayed behind. In Portsmouth, 13 percent were left behind; in Norfolk,
16 percent; and in the Newport News area, 13 percent.
Months Lived in Area
About half of the Hampton-Roads migrant workers had lived
in the area 5 months or more when enumerated;
AliOO£
- k -
Months lived in area
Total
Portsmouth
Norfolk Newt
)ort 1
(Percent distribution)
)
Total
100.
100
100
100
8 months and over
23
19
2h
29
6 and 7 months
16
17
lk
17
and 5 months
19
16
20
21
3 months
12
13
12
12
2 months
11
11
10
9
1 month
11
12
11
7
Less than 1 month
8
9
9
5
Industry and Occupation
No one industry predominated among the workers before they
moved to the Hampton Roads area.- Farm workers made up the largest
single group before migration, but they accounted for less than one-
fifth of the total. A sizable proportion of the workers had been en¬
gaged in each of several industries: construction, manufacturing, trade,
and "other" service industries, and a large number were new workers.
The industrial attachment of the workers on their last full-
time jobs before migration was-as follows:
Industry at last residence Total
Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
(Percent distribution]
Total
100
100
100
100
No job
16
15
16
18
Students
3
"3
3
12
Housewives
3
3
3
2
Unemployed
h
5
/
o
3
Other
1
2
1
Agriculture, forestry, and
fishing 18
Mining 1
Construction 15
Manufacturing 111
Transportation equipment 3
Other* 11
Transportation, communication
and utilities 6
Trade lh
Personal service 5
Other services 11
Hi
18
20
2
1
1
13
13
12
23
9
15
3
3
3
19
6
12
6
7
c:
13
lh
lh
It-
' 7
3
10
10
12
In the Hampton Roads area, shipbuilding became by far the
most important single employer of migrant workers. Norfolk, however,
differed from the other two cities in this respect; only one-sixth of
tne Norfolk migrants worked "in the shipyards, as compared with a good
majority of the migrants in Portsmouth and the Newport News area.
Ai|0p5
-,5.-
A relatively large proportion of the migrants, were employed in
construction work, and as usual, a large number.were employed in
trade and "other" service industries.
The industries employing migrant workers at the time
of interview are shown belowj
Industry when interviewed Total Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
100
Unemployed
5
5
5
h
Agriculture, forestry, and
fishing
1
-*
1
Mining
")r
-X-
*
•X-
Construction
111
11
21
8
Manufacturing
ii5
61
26
60
Transportation equipment
39
ss
17
57
Other
6
5
9
3
Transportation, communication
and utilities
6
5
9
3
Trade
13
8
17
11
Personal service
5
3
6
k
Other service
11
7
16
9
Less than 0,5 percent
Before migration to the Hampton Roads area, the workers were
principally engaged as craftsmen, operatives and farm workers:, or held
no jobs. An uncommonly small proportion held white-collar jobs, and
domestic and "other" service workers were relatively few,
The following table shows the occupations of the workers
on their last full-time jobs at their last residencer
Occupation at last residence Total Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
1 (Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
100
No job
16
15
16
18
Professional and semiprofessional i|
2
h
5
Proprietors, managers, and
officials
k.
3
h
5
Clerical and kindred workers
9
8
9
9
Craftsmen and kindred workers
22.
32
20
17
Operatives and kindred workers
Ill
12
13
16
Domestic service workers
3
2
U
1
Other service workers
5
h
7
5
Farm owners, tenants, and
laborers
17
111
17
20
Laborers, except farm
6
8
6
h
After migration to the Hampton Roads area the proportion of
migrant workers engaged in skilled and semiskilled jobs increased sharply.
AJj.005
- 6 -
Before migration, these two groups made up 36 percent of the workers;
after migration, the proportion increased to 59 percent. The increase
in the number of skilled workers resulted largely from the shifting of
workers formerly employed in white-collar, semiskilled, and farm work.
The new semiskilled workers were drawn principally from former farm
workers and from workers who held no jobs at their last residence.
The occupations of the migrants on their jobs in the Hampton
Roads area were as follows:
Occupation when interviewed Total
Total 100
Unemployed 5
Professional and semiprofessionaL li
Proprietors, managers and
officials 2
Clerical and kindred workers 10
Craftsmen and kindred workers 32
Operatives and kindred workers 27
Domestic service workers 3
Other service workers 7
Farm owners, tenants, and
laborers *
Laborers, except farm 10
Less than 0.5 percent.
Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
(Percent distributionX"
100
100
100
6
5
h
3
5
h
1
3
3
8
12
10
hi
28
29
22
23
35
2
h
2
ii
9
6
*
/\
Ill
11
7
Earnings
The average weekly earnings of employed migrant workers in
the Hampton Roads area were $32.1*9. The averages according to race
and sex were as follows:
White males $38.77
White females $15.26
Negro males $20,23
Negro females $6.71
The average weekly earnings for all workers in the three
cities were as follows:
Portsmouth $33.16
Norfolk $29.18
Newport News area $3l+.07
Unemployment
Out of the ll(,Ii00 migrant workers in the Hampton Roads area,
an estimated 700 workers, or 5 percent, were unemployed and seeking work
during the week prior to interview. Migrant unemployment in both
Portsmouth and Norfolk was also 5 percent; but in the Newport News area
only ii percent were unemployed.
A4005
- 7 -
Unemployment by Sex, female migrants reported atiout
five times higher unemployment than males. Among females, 15 percent,
and among males, 3 percent, were unemployed.
Unemployment by Race. Negro migrants reported more than
double the unemployment rate of white workers. Nine percent of the
Negroes and 4'percent of the white workers were unemployed.
Unemployment by Age. The youngest migrant workers were
least successful in finding jobs in the Hampton Roads area:
Age of worker Percent unemployed in Hampton Roads area
Total 5
Under 20 years 8
20-24 years 5
25-44 years 4
45 years and over 5
Unemployment by Months livod in County. Workers who arrived in the
Hampton Roads area shortly before the present, survey was conducted
reported the highest unemployment rates:
Months lived in County Percent unemployed in Hampton Roads area
Total 5
8 months and over 5
6 and 7 months 4
4 and 5 months 2
3 months 4
2 months 8
1 month 8
Less than 1 month 8
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. Except for workers formerly
engaged in personal services and those who held no job at their last
residence, all industry groups reported very low unemployment rates
in the Hampton Roads area. Unemployment rates by industry at last
residence follow:
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Hampton Roads area.
Total
5
No job
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manufac tuning
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Trade
Personal services
Other services
9
4
2
2
3
4
3
17
3
MOOS
8 —
In terms of occupations, craftsmen and. operatives reported
exceptionally low unemployment rate's in the Rampton Roads area. Rates
markedly higher than- average were reported by workers formerly employed
as domestic service and clerical workers and as non-farm lahorers.
Unemployment by occupations was as follows J
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in the Hampton Roads are^.
Total 5
No j ob 9
Professional and semiprofessional 4
Proprietors, managers, and officials 3
Clerical and kindred workers 8
Craftsmen and kindred workers 2
Operatives and kindred workers 2
Domestic service workers 26
Other service workers 1
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers 3
Laborers, except farm 7
Housing
The great majority of the migrant families in the Hampton
Roads area were sharing a dwelling with other persons when enumerated.
About one-third were occupying a separate dwelling, and a few lived in
hotels and trailer camps. The following tables show the living
arrangements of the families:
1. All Families
Living arrangements Total Portsmouth Norfolk Newport News area
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
100
Occupying a separate
dwelling
32
32
35
28
Sharing a dwelling
with others
66
64
64
70
In hotels
1
3
*
1
In tourist and trailer
camps
1
1
1
1
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A4005
- 9 -
2. One
:-Toerson families
Living arrangements
Total
Portsmouth
Norfolk Newcort
News area
(Percent
distribution)
Total
100
100
100
100
Occupying a separate
dwelling
5
3
8
1
Sharing a dwelling
with others
93
90
97
98
In hotels
2
7
1
In tourist and trailer
camps
*
*
*
*
* Less than 0.5 percent
3. Mu1
ti~".u"3or foni
.lies
Living arrangements
Total
Portsmouth
iorl oik Newcort
News area
(Percent
distribution)
Total
100
100
100 :
LOO
Occupying a separate
dwelling
62
58
55
63
Sharing a dwelling
with others
36
40
34
36
In hotels
*
#
#
*
In tourist and trailer
camps
2
2
1
1
* Less than 0.5 percent
Conclusions
The v3ltu:.e of migration into the Hauntc« Roads area was
extremely large during the first year of large scale defense activity.
Newport News reported the third highest migrant rate among the 51 cities
covered in these surveys, and Portsmouth and Newport News were the sixth
and eighth highest cities, respectively.
Unlike migrants in the majority of the other high-migration
war-production cities, migrants in the Hampton Ponds area were notably
successful in finding jobs after -i~r-tion.
FEDS3AL W03XS AG3NCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3811
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
January 10, 19h2
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Seattle, Washington
A survey of migration into Seattle, Washington,.was conducted by
the' WPA Division of Research during October and November 19lfL. The survey was
concerned with civilians who moved to Seattle from places outside of King County
after Oetober 1, 19U0, and who were still living there when this survey was con¬
ducted. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered Seattle residential
districts, rooming houses> tourist and trailer camps, and. lower-priced hotels.
Higher' priced hotels were not covered, arid no attempt was made to gather infor¬
mation about persons who left the city during the survey period.
• Number of Migrants
An estimated 23,600 families living within the corporate limits of
Seattle during October and. November 19hl had moved to the city from places out¬
side of King County after October 1, 19^0. These families contained 23,200
workers; there were fewer workers than families because 10 percent of the
.families contained no workers, while only 8 percent contained more than one
worker. An estimated 1^2,100 migrant persons were included in the Seattle
migrant families, and these made up a group equal to 11.U percent of Seattle's
19U0 population*
The survey found an additional 180 families, containing JU30 persons,
in tourist and trailer camps just outside the city limits.
Origins
Washington was the principal source of Seattle migrants, contributing
I4.3 percent. Oregon was the second most important source, contributing 12 percent,
and Montana was third with 9 percent. Eight percent had come from California,
6 percent from Minnesota, k percent from North Dakota, 3 percent from Idaho,
and 2 percent from Alaska. The following States each contributed 1 percent of
the migrants: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska,
South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin. The average distance traveled by the mi¬
grants was 260 miles, and 38 percent had traveled 500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of 30 percent of the migrants; i.e., 9
percent had come from the open country and 21 percent from rural villages.
Towns (2,500 to 25,000 population) were the origin of 29 percent; lU percent
came from small cities; and 27 percent from cities of over 100,000 population.
One-fourth of-the migrants had formerly been Seattle residents. Half
of these had been absent from the city about 5 years before their return.
Characteristics
Age and Sex. The average ago of migrant workers in Seattle was 27.8
years. For one-person families, the average was 2lu7 years; and for heads of
A3 311
- 2 -
multiperson families, 32.9 years. Twelve percent of all vrorkers were under 20
years, and lJj. percent were hS years or over.*
Female workers made up 22 percent of all migrant workers in Seattle.
The average age of female vrorkers was 25.9 years, as compared with 28.5 years
for males.
Race. Practically all Seattle migrants were white; Negroes and "other"
races each made up less than one-half of 1 percent of the migrants.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Seattle averaged 1.8 persons
per family. Fore than half contained only ond person.
Size of family in Seattle Percent distribution
Total 100 ~
1 person £8
2 persons 21
3 and U persons 18
5 persons or more 3
Most of these families were complete when interviewed; however, 11
percent of the one-person families and 8 percent of the multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children at their former residences. Before
migration, the families had contained persons. Of these, 93 percent
had migrated to Seattle and 7 percent had stayed at the migrants' previous
residences.
Month of Arrival. About half the migrants had arrived in Seattle
during or after August 19hl.
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 19li0-February 19lil 15
March-April 19^1 10
May-June 19lil 12
July-August 19Ul 19
September 19l|l 13
. October-November 19l|l 26
Industry and Occupation
Before migration, no one industry predominated among Seattle migrants.
Workers from manufacturing, trade, and "other" services, and new workers were
the principal sources of migrants, but none of these groups contributed as
much as one-fifth of the total. Only 8 percent of the workers had been engaged
in agriculture, forestry, and fishing at their last residence. In Seattle,
manufacturing was the most important employer of migrant workers, and a parti¬
cularly large group were employed in shipbuilding and aircraft manufacturing.
Large numbers of migrants also found work in trade and "other" service industries.
A3 811
- 3 -
The distribution of migrants on their last full-time jobs, at their
last residence and on their jobs when interviewed in Seattle was as follows:
Industry At last residence In Seattle
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence 1/
15
—
Unemployed in Seattle
-
9
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
8
-x-
Mining
3
%
Construction
10
8
Manufacturing
18
h2
Lumber, furniture, and lumber products
"6
3
Transportation equipment
3
31
Other
5
8
Transportation, communication, and utilities
7
7
Trade
18
17
Personal service
5
6
Other services
16
11
* Less than 0.5 percent.
1/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students, 8
percent; housewives, If percent; unemployed, 2 percent; and. others, 1 percent.
In terms of occupations, Seattle migrants principally held clerical,
craftsmen's, and operatives' jobs both before and after migration. Before
migration, Ixl percent of the workers were included in these three groups, and
after migration, the proportion increased to 63 percent. The increase in
operatives after migration was especially sharp. As in many other survey cities,
the proportion of laborers among the migrants was small.
The occupational attachment of the migrants before and after migra¬
tion to Seattle was as follows:
Occupation At last residence In Seattle
.(percent, distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence
15
Unemployed in Seattle
-
9
Professional and semiprofessional
7
6
Proprietors, managers, and officials
6
h
Clerical and kindred workers
15
13
Craftsmen and kindred workers
1U
18
Operatives and kindred workers
18
27
Domestic service workers
2
3
Other service workers
7
8
Farm owners-, tenants, and laborers
7
*
Laborers, except farm
9
7
-"-Less than 0.5 percent.
A3 811
- U -
Unemployment
Out of 23j200 migrant workers in Seattle, an estimated 2,130, or
9 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding inter¬
view. Among other survey cities, migrant unemployment ranged from 2 percent
in Bristol, Commecticut to 17 percent in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Unemployment by Sex. Female migrant workers reported about double
the unemployment rate of males. Among females, l£ percent were unemployed,
as compared with 8 percent for males.
Unemployment by Age. There were only minor differences in unemploy¬
ment rates according to the age of Seattle migrant workers, although the young
and old workers were slightly less successful than the middle age groups.
Age of worker Percent unemployed in Seattle
Total 9
Under 20 years 11
20-2U years 9
25-Wi years 8
years and over 12
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. V/orkers arriving in Seattle
during the two months in which the present survey was conducted showed the
highest rate of unemployment:
Month of arrival
Percent unemployed in Seattle
Total
9
October 19U0-April I9I4I
h
May-June 19iil
7
July-August 19Ul
5
September 19^1
8
October-November 19U1
19
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation.
The least successful
Seattle migrants were tho.se engaged in agriculture and mining at their last
residence. New workers showed average unemployment, and the lowest rates were
reported for workers from construction and manufacturing. Unemployment rates
by industry follow;
A3 811
- 5 -
Industry at last residence Percent unemployed in Seattle
Total 9
No job 9
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing 1%
Mining 18
Construction 6
Manufacturing 6
Transportation, communication, and utilities 10
Trade 11
Personal services 10
"Other services 8
Clerks and craftsmen were the most successful Seattle migrants,
reporting unemployment rates well below the average. Domestic and other
service workers were least successful. Non-farm laborers and operatives
showed rates only slightly above average. Rates by occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Seattle
Total 9
No job 9
Professional and semiprofessional 9
Proprietors, managers, and officials 9
Clerical and kindred 'workers " 5
Craftsmen and kindred workers 6
Operatives and kindred workers 10
Domestic service workers 1$
Other service workers 16
Farm owners, tenants, and laborers lU
Laborers, except farm 11
Housing
The majority of the Seattle migrants were sharing a dwelling with
other persons when enumerated. One-third were occupying separate living
quarters: about one-eighth — a relatively high proportion — were in hotels;
and a few were in tourist and trailer camps.
Living arrangements Total 1-person families tiultiperson families
("Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
33
7
70
Sharing a dwelling with others
72
25
In hotels
13
20
2
In tourist and trailer camps
2
1
3
A3 811
- 6 -
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Seattle has been tremendous.
Among 39 cities for which recent migrant data are now available, only three—
Los Angeles, San Diego, and Washington, D. C. —received a greater absolute
number of migrants during the first year of the defense program. And in rela¬
tion to its 19i;0 population, Seattle attracted a greater number of migrants
than any other survey city of over 300,000 population, and was exceeded only
by Norfolk, Long Beach, San Diego and Wichita among cities of over 100,000
population.
The Seattle migrants had not-been notably successful in finding work.
Although the unemployment rate of Seattle migrants was considerably lower than
that of several other large defense centers—particularly Los Angeles, Wichita,,
and St, Louis—it was far higher than has been commonly found among the cities
included in this survey.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
A3964a
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
February 12, 1942
MEMORANDUM
Recent Migration into Appleton. Wisconsin
A survey of migration into Appleton, Wisconsin, was conducted by
the WPA Division of Research during November 1941. The survey was concerned
with civilians who moved to Appleton from places outside Outagamie County
after October 1, 1940, and who were still living there at the time of this
survey. Operating on a sample basis, the survey covered the residential
districts and lower-priced hotels within the corporate limits of Appleton.
Higher priced hotels were not surveyed, and no attempt was made to gather
information about persons who left the city during the survey period.
Industrial Activity
Appleton is not an important center of direct defense activity.
Between June 1940 and October 1941, Outagamie County received direct defense
contracts valued at only about $600,000. The general increase in industrial
activity was reflected in Appleton, however. During the period between
October 1940 and October 1941, an estimated 500 new jobs were created in the
city.
Number of Migrants
Approximately 500 families living in Appleton at the time of this
survey had moved to the city after October 1, 1940. The families contained
500 workers and a total of 1,150 persons. Migrants made up a" group equal to
4.0 percent of the city's 1940 population.
Origins
Three-fourths (75 percent) of the migrants had moved from within
Wisconsin. Michigan and Illinois wore the second most important sources,
contributing 6 percent each. Four percent come from Minnesota. The average
distance traveled by the migrants was 75 miles; only 6 percent had traveled
500 miles or more.
Rural places were the origin of 30 percent of the migrants; i.e.,
5 percent came from open country and 25 percent from rural villages, Towns
(2,500 to 25,000 population) contributed 39 percent; small cities, 14 percent?
and cities of over 100,000 population, 17 percent.
About one-fourth (24 percent) of the migrants had formerly lived
in Appleton. About half of the former residents had been absent from the
city for 4 years or more.
A3964a
- 2 -
Characteristics
Age and. Sex. The average age of migrant workers in Appleton was
29.3 years. In 1-person families the average age was 25.0 years, and for
heads of multiperson families, 35.5 years. Fourteen percent of the workers
were under 20 years, and 14 percent were 45 years and ever.
Woman workers made up 23 percent of the total migrant labor force
in Appleton. The average age of females was 26.3 years, as compared with
29.9 years for males.
»
Race. All of the migrants in Appleton were white persons.
Size of Family. Migrant families in Appleton averaged 2.3 persons
per family. Nearly half consisted of only one persons when interviewed:
Size of family Percent distribution
Total 100
1 person 46
2 persons 16
3 and 4 persons 30
5 persons and over 8
Most of these families \irere complete whon interviewed; only 7
percent of the 1-person families and 6 percent of the multiperson families
had left a spouse or dependent children behind when migrating to Appleton.
Before migration, the families had contained 1,200 persons. Of these, 96
percent had migrated and 4 percent had stayed behind.
Month of Arrival. About half of the migrants had arrived in
Aopleton during June or earlier:
Month of arrival Percent distribution
Total 100
October 1940-March 1941 21
April-May 1941 21
June-July 1941 12
August-September 1941 25
October 1941 12
November 1941 9
Industry and Occupation
Appleton migrants came principally from manufacturing, trade, and
"other" services, or held no jobs at their last residence. Relatively few
came from agriculture. In Appleton, manufacturing was the chief employer of
migrant workers, with narticularly large numbers employed in paper and food
industries. A sizable proportion of the migrants found jobs in trade and
"other" service industries.
The industrial attachment of the workers on their last full-time
jobs before migration and on their jobs in Appleton was as follows:
A3964a
- 3 -
Industry At last residence In Appleton
^Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
No job at last residence l/
16
—
Unemployed in Appleton
-
7
Agriculture, forestry, fishing
7
*
Mining
*
*
Construction
6
5
Manufac turing
26
38
Pood
7
10
Paper and allied products
9
16
Other
10
12
Transportation, communication & utilities
6
8
Trade
16
17
Personal service
5
6
Other services
18
19
* Less than 0.5 percent.
l/ The status of these workers at their last residence was: Students
8 percent; housewives 2 percent; unemployed 4 percent; and others 2 percent.
White-collar workers made up the largest single occupational group
among the migrants, accounting for 41 percent of the total before migration
and 42 percent in Appleton. The proportion engaged in skilled and semiskilled
occupations increased sharply from 23 percent before migration to 32 percent
in Appleton. A relatively large proportion of the workers held unskilled
jobs in Appleton.
The occupations of the workers before and after migration follow:-
Occupation At last residence In Appleton
(Percent' distribution)
Total 100 100
No job at last residence
16
-
Unemployed in Appleton
-
7
Professional sad semiprofessional
11
11
Proprietors, managers, and officials
9
8
Clerical and kindred workers
21
23
Craftsmen and kindred workers
10
14
Operatives and kindred workers
13
18
Domestic service workers
3
3
Other service xrorkers
4
5
Parm owners, tenants, and laborers
7
*
Laborers, except farm
6
11
* Less than 0.5 percent.
A3964a
-4-
Unenroloyment
Out of 500 migrant workers in Appleton, an estimated 35 workers, or
7 percent, were unemployed and seeking work during the week preceding the survey.
Unemployment by Sex. Both males and females in Appleton reported
an unemployment rate of 7 percent.
Unemployment "by Age: Unemployment was highest among workers under
20 years of age. Unemployment among workers of 45 years of age and over was
only slightly above average.
Age of worker Percent distribution
Total 7
Under 20 years 20
20-24 years 12
25-44 years 2
45 years and over 8
Unemployment by Month of Arrival. Workers who arrived in Appleton
during the month in which the survey was conducted and during the month pre¬
ceding, reported exceptionally high unemployment rates:
Month of arrival Percent unemployed
Unemployment by Industry and Occupation. The lowest unemployment
rate was reported by manufacturing workers; the highest by workers who held
no job at their last residence. Rates by industry follow:
Total
7
October 1940-July 1941
August-September 1941
October 1941
November 1941
3
3
19
25
Industry at last residence
Percent unemployed in Appleton
Total
7
No job
14
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Mining
Construction
Manufacturing
Transportation, communication, and utilities
Trade
Personal service
Other services
10
10
/
9
2
/ Base too small for computation
A3964a
-5-
In terms of occupations, the lowest unemployment rates were reported
by skilled workers and non—farm laborers,, The only group showing well above
average unemployment x^ere workers who had no jobs before migration. Rates by
occupation follow:
Occupation at last residence Percent unemployed in Appleton
Total 7
No job 14
Professional and semiprofessional 5
Proprietors, managers, and officials 6
Clerical and kindred workers 8
Craftsmen and kindred \irorkers *
Operatives and kindred workers 4
Domestic and other service workers 9
Farm operatives, tenants, and laborers 10
Laborers, except farm *
* Less than 0.5 percent
/ Base too small for computation.
Housing.
The majority of the migrant families in Appleton were occupying a
separate dwelling unit when enumerated. About two-fifths had doubled up with
other persons and a small proportion lived in hotels.
Living arrangements Total 1-eerson families Multiperson families
(Percent distribution)
Total
100
100
100
Occupying a separate dwelling
52
7
91
Sharing a dwelling with others
39
74
9
In hotels
9
19
*
* Less than 0.5 percent.
Conclusions
The volume of recent migration into Appleton was relatively small
during the first year of the defense program. Among the 51 cities covered in
these surveys, only 18 reported a lower migrant rate than Appleton. Appleton
migrants did report, hov/ever, about average success in finding work after
migration.
FEDERAL WORKS AGENCY
Work Projects Administration
Division of Research
IMM
-N'T".,
■■ •• v til.
■V \ .-s :
® ■ £S
/
*