INTRODUCTION. The accompanying report is based mainly upon an investigation conducted during the months of December, 1907, and January, February, March and April of 1908, the results of which are presented in Chapter II. The returns for this investigation were obtained by the field force of the Bureau of Statistics of the New York office of the Department of Labor under the direction of a special investigator. The object of the investigation was to determine the general relation of supply and demand in regard to skilled labor in the principal industries in the State, the conditions under which boys and girls enter the industries and their chances for advancement, together with the opinions of both employers and employees as to the value and need of industrial training outside of commercial establishments. The industries selected for investigation were those representing the prominent skilled trades and the important mill and factory industries employing low or medium skilled labor. In addition a few industries employing largely unskilled labor, such as the manufacture of confectionery, laundries and paper box making, were added on account of the large number of minors engaged in such trades. No industry was examined, with the exception of paper novelty work that is not represented by over $3,000,000 of capital and 1,800 wage earners. The establishments from which data were secured were, as a rule, those employing the largest number of wage earners. The significance of the returns consequently is much greater than would be indicated by the number of establishments. Returns were obtained from a total of 1,182 firms representing a total of 317,932 employees divided as follows by sex and industry: NUMBER OF FIRMS AND NUMBER OF MALE AND FEMALE EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE INVESTIGATION, BY INDUSTRIES. The data from the employers were obtained upon two blank forms the first of which was arranged to suit the special conditions of the different industries. The following is a typical example of the first schedule: NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS. ALBANY, December 23, 1907. To Employers: The Bureau of Labor Statistics is making an investigation as to the supply of skilled labor in the industries of the State and as to the conditions under which boys and girls enter the industries and their opportunities for advancement. In this investigation the bureau asks your co-operation by furnishing as fully and accurately as possible the information called for in this schedule. The representative of the Bureau who hands you this will gladly make any explanation as to details which will assist you in answering the various questions. Through special provision by the last Legislature the Bureau has been able to secure the services of an expert on the subject — Prof. Charles R. Richards, Director of Manual Training in the Teachers College of Columbia University to conduct the investigation, and with the hearty co-operation of employers there is every reason to believe that the investigation will prove of lasting benefit to the industrial welfare of the State, both for employers and employees. Below* you will see the authority of law under which this inquiry is being made. Approved, JOHN WILLIAMS, Commissioner of Labor. Respectfully yours, L. W. HATCH, Prof. Richards has since become Director of Cooper Union in New York City. The provisions of the Labor Law relative to furnishing statistics which were printed on the schedule are not reproduced here. 1. All Employees. (a) Largest number of employees in the manufacturing department at any time in the last twelve months (b) Smallest number of employees in the manufacturing department at any time in the last twelve months (c) Largest number of employees under 16 years of age in the manufacturing department at any time in the last twelve months.... (d) Number of working hours per day, not counting overtime Give following figures on basis of largest number of employees during the last twelve months. 2. Employees of Low Grade Skill. (a) Number of employees of low-grade skill, operating one machine, or carrying on one process, requiring small degree of skill..... . (b) Foreign born (if exact number cannot be given state approximate percentage in this class).. (c) American born .. (d) Lowest weekly wages of adults (21 years or over) in this class, not counting overtime.. Highest weekly wages of adults (21 years or over) in this class, not counting overtime.. Weekly wages of greatest number of adults (21 years or over) in this class, not counting overtime. (e) Number of employees preparing for work in this low-grade class under the age of 16 years. (f) Number of employees preparing for work in this low-grade class 16 or 17 years of age... (g) At what age do you prefer to start employees of this class?. (h) Weekly wages paid beginners in this class at start (i) How long a time is required for beginners in this class to gain a working efficiency?..... (j) How many years before average beginners reach full wages, in this class of employees?. (k) What percentage of employees in this class, under 18 years of age, have graduated from grammar school? (1) Do employees of this class have opportunity to advance to the high-grade, skilled positions of class 3? If so, how?. |