Section 2. Level of earnings in retail trade

Earnings are rather low in retail trade compared to other industries. For the year 1955, as an example, average hourly gross earnings in retail trade (except eating and drinking places) averaged $1.50, compared to $1.91 in wholesale trade. $1.88 in manufacturing, $1.95 in the railroad industry, $2.10 in gas and electric utilities, $2.19 in metal mining and $2.32 in petroleum and natural gas.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Section 3. Trends in average hourly earnings in retailing compared with other industries

Over the 7-year period 1947-53, average gross earnings in retailing increased almost two-fifths (38 percent), but lost ground to the 43 percent advance in average earnings for all manufacturing, the 47 percent advance in construction earnings, and the 40-61 percent earnings increases in transportation and public utilities.

Source: U. S. Department of Labor, exhibit H, "Materials on coverage and exemptions under the FLSA," April 1955.

TABLE 13.-Wages and hours in retail trade, February 1956

Source: U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Earnings, April 1956.

TABLE 14.-Average hourly earnings in retail trade, August 19541

1 Based on BLS average of $1.47 per hour in August 1954 and adjusted by relationship shown in Census of Business, 1948.

Section 4. Safeway Stores, Inc.

Average hourly wage rate paid to certain employes, year 1954:

The hourly rate shown for the grocery section includes takeaway boys. This would be a tendency to reduce the hourly rate.

3 The hourly rate shown for the meat section includes the head meatcutters' total compensation.

TABLE 15.-Food clerks' hourly wage rates as of Apr. 23, 1955

Zones (arranged alphabetically by divisions)

Butte.

Dallas

Denver.

Section 5. Employee-wage distribution in multistate establishments

The estimated number and percentage for all multistate retail establishments combined, who are paid less than the specified rates are as follows:

Separate estimates have been made for multistate enterprises of the low-wage general merchandise groups. For the country as a whole, the proportion of workers receiving under 75 cents is estimated at 10 percent; under 90 cents, 25 percent; and under $1, 40 percent. For the South, for general merchandise stores the proportions are: under 75 cents, 35 percent; under 90 cents, 50 percent; under $1, 65 percent.

It is observed by the Department's report that an increased minimum rate would have greater impact on the stores now paying the lowest rates. It is pointed out that this situation "illustrates the general problem which has developed over the years where low-wage industries without protection of the minimum wage continue to lag behind while it has been necessary for other industries to adjust to a statutory floor under wages. While it may be recognized that some segments not now covered would have to go further to reach any statutory floor under wages, it must also be recognized that the longer the gap is permitted to continue the more difficult it will be to give minimum wage protection to the low-wage workers who do not now have it and are most in need of it."

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Section 6. Earnings and hours in retail trade in three States 1

I. ARIZONA

The survey of earnings of women workers in retailing was undertaken by the State of Arizona in February 1954.

This survey covered about 1,500 firms and almost 9,000 women employees working in department stores, limited-price variety stores, other miscellaneous general merchandise, apparel and accessory stores, food and liquor, as well as drugstores, furniture and other miscellaneous retail trade stores.

1 Selected from Retail Wage and Hour Surveys of Arizona, Illinois, and New Jersey. For more complete data see 84th Cong., 1st sess., staff report to the Subcommittee on Labor of the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare, U. S. Senate, on Retail Establishments and the FLSA, pp. 80-102.

TABLE 16.-Median hourly earnings of women workers in Arizona, by type of store,

Source: Arizona Industrial Commission, Minimum Wage Department, Phoenix, Ariz., in cooperation with U. S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, Survey of the Earnings of Women Employed in Retail Trade Stores in the State of Arizona, February 1954.

Source: Survey of the Earnings of Women Employed in Retail Trade in the State of Arizona, February 1954.

TABLE 18.-Type of store and median hours in workweek

Source: Survey of the Earnings of Women Employed_in_Retail Trade in the State of Arizona, February 1954, p. 13.

2. ILLINOIS

TABLE 19.-Percentage distribution of women and minors in retail trade by average hourly earnings 1

Receiving less than

$1.06 per hour (median rate). $1.29 per hour__

1 The survey described its scope as follows:

"All women and minor employees except proprietors, firm members, and officers of corporations were included in this wage survey.

"The Minimum Fair Wage Standards for Women and Minors Act defines a 'minor' as being a female person under the age of 18 years and a male person under the age of 21 years.

"The survey included 8 general groups of retail trade within 4 major areas determined by economic and geographic factors.

"Included in the study were: Department stores; variety stores; general merchandise stores; food stores; apparel stores; drugstores; furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores; and miscellaneous retail trade stores.

"Four major groups of retail trade were excluded from the study. These groups are: Building materials and farm equipment; mail-order houses; automobile and transportation, including gasoline service stations and eating and drinking places.

"There probably is a larger proportion of women and male minors earning very low amounts and very high amounts than indicated by this survey. Furthermore, since smaller cities and rural areas are underrepresented in the survey, it is likely that there is a larger proportion of women and male minors earning smaller amounts than revealed by this survey."

Source: Survey of Earnings of Women and Male Minors in Illinois Retail Trade, April 1954. Reprinted from July-August 1955 Illinois Labor Bulletin.

TABLE 20.-Earnings of women and male minors in limited-price variety stores Receiving less than

67 cents per hour..

Percent

25

TABLE 21.-Earnings of women and male minors in drugstores

TABLE 22.-Earnings of women and male minors in food stores

In department stores, which followed drugstores, there were still over 25 percent of the employes earning less than $1 in April 1954.

TABLE 23.-Earnings of women and minors in department stores

TABLE 24.-Earnings of women and male minors in apparel stores

Source: Survey of Earnings of Women and Male Minors in Illinois Retail Trade, April 1954. Reprinted from July-August 1955 Illinois Labor Bulletin.

1 Total women and male minors estimated to be employed in retail-trade establishments within the scope of the study.

2 Weighted by sample and trade weights.

3 Included in the study were: Department stores, variety stores, general merchandise stores, food stores apparel, drugstores, furniture, home furnishing and equipment stores and miscellaneous retail trade stores. 4 Major groups of retail trade were excluded from the study. These groups are: Building materials and farm equipment, mail-order houses, automobile and transportation, including gasoline service stations, eating and drinking places and liquor stores.

Source: Illinois Department of Labor, Division of Statistics and Research.

3. NEW JERSEY

The New Jersey Department of Labor and Industry surveyed earnings and hours in retailing in June 1954.

The retailing industry in New Jersey comprised then 1,139 firms with almost 10,000 employees. Over 90 percent of these firms were independents, about 5 percent belonged to small chains, and about 2 percent to large chains.

TABLE 26.-Hourly earnings, retail trade, New Jersey, 1954—percent distribution