- I . . ylv />
Wort!" w08le \
Universe
DOG£n^Ta ^brary JUN 8 193P 5531
rtoUWI
FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF ADMINISTRATION
Harry L. Hopkins, Administrator
DIVISION OF RESEARCH, STATISTICS, AND FINANCE RESEARCH SECTION
Corrington Gill ^Toward B. Myers
OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSIENT UNEMPLOYED
FEBRUARY 1935
TR-6
5531
This report of the usual occupations of the transient unemployed is
based upon a study of transients registered for relief in 13 important
cities during the month of February 1935. The cities covered by this
study were selected because of their importance as transient centers
and because as individual cities they are believed to represent the
areas in which they are located. The cities are:
Boston Denver Los Angeles hew Orleans
Chicago Jacksonville (Fla.) Memphis Phoenix
Dallas Kansas City (Mo.) Minneapolis Pittsburgh
Seattle
Prepared by John II. TIebb and M. Starr Northrop
5531
SUMMARY
The occupations usually followed "by the transient unemployed
registrants are predominantly of an unskilled and semi-skilled
nature. .Among these mobile job-seekers are to be found farm hands
from agriculture, cooks, waiters, and dishwashers from restaurants
and hotels, counter-clerks and laborers from trade, assembly-line
workers and laborers from manufacturing, and seamen, maintenance
workers, and draymen from the transportation industries. However,
some skilled manual workers, principally skilled mechanics and build¬
ing trades workers, are included in the transient population as are
representatives from "white-collar" pursuits.
A larger proportion of the unattached reported unskilled and
semi—skilled occupations than did the heads of family groups; and
this difference between the two groups extends throughout the sev¬
eral occupational classifications. In general, it may be said that
heads of family groups tend to come from a higher economic level in
the general population than do the unattached. The proportion of
unattached transients who had no usual occupation increased from 6
percent in September 1934 to 12 percent in February 1935 while the
proportion that had never done gainful work remained fairly constant.
Among both the unattached and family group heads the percentage of
women who had never worked was much higher than the percentage of
men. However, women represent but a small proportion of either the
unattached or family groups heads.
Despite the large number of unskilled workers, there is little
doubt about the employability of the transient unemployed. Those
without a work history represent only a small fraction, consisting
principally of younger men. The great majority are able-bodied,
willing to work, and of an age when their efforts should be most
productive. However, their reabsorption by private industry depends
on the revival of a demand for unskilled or semi-skilled workers in
the trade, service, agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation
industries. Pending such a revival, it seems evident from the point
of view of employability and work history that the transient unem¬
ployed would fit admirably into a work relief program including
projects outside the large urban centers where a mobile labor supply
could be used to advantage.
5531
-1-
OCCUPATIONAl DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSIENT UNEMPLOYED, FEBRUARY 1935
Occupational groups. The transient unemployed come principally
from the unskilled and semi-skilled occupational groups in the general
population. In February 1935 over one-half of the -unattached and over
two-fifths of the heaus of family groups reporting a usual occupation he-
fore migration were classified as unskilled or semi-skilled workers. (See
Table la and lb.) In addition, 11 percent of the unattached and 8 percent
of the heads of family groups reported usual occupations in the servant
and allied worker group, which is made up almost entirely of unskilled and
serai-skilled occupations. Taking the two groups together, the February
data chow that 65 percent of the unattached and 50 percent of the heads of
family groups formerly followed occupations of an unskilled or semi-skilled
nature. In terms of skill, this difference between the unattached tran¬
sients and the heads cf families ext mds throughout the occupational group¬
ings. In particular, the proportion skilled workers, proprietors, mana¬
gers, and ofiicials, and professional persons, was higher among heads of
family groups than among the unattached. The difference is equally evident
from a comparison of the proportion of "white-collar" 1J workers in the two
groups: among the heads of family groups 30 percent were "white-collar"
workers, in contrast with 18 percent of the unattached. These comparisons
seem to justify the conclusion that head® of family groups tend to come
from a somewhat higher economic level in the general population, than do the
unat t ached .
There is still anotner significant .difference between these two
groups: the proportion of transients reporting no usual occupation is con¬
siderably higher among the unattached than among the heads of family groups.
In February, 12 percent of the unattached reported, no usual occupation in
contrast with 1 percent of the heads of family groups. It is interesting
to note, in this connection, that there was a marked tendency for the pro¬
portion of unattached reporting no usual occupation to increase during the
six-month period, September 1934 through February 1935, while the propor¬
tion that, had never worked remained, fairly constant. For this period the
proportions of unattached transients reporting no usual occupation were:
Sex^tember, 6 percent; October, 7 percent; November, 9 percent; December,
9 percent; January 1935, 10 percent; and February, 12 percent. No such
tendency was evident among the heads of family groups. The differences
between the two groups in occupational- levels, and the proportions reporting
no usual occupations probably reflect, in part, the higher average age of
the family group heads. (See Table 4.)
Sex and Occupations. The occupational distributions of men and
women among both the unattached and family group heads differ markedly.
The proportion of women v/ho had never worked was much higher in both
groups: 27 percent of the unattached women, and 41 percent of the fe¬
male heads of family groups reported that they had never been gainfully
1/ As used here, "white-collar" workers include those classified as:
professional persons; proprietors, managers, and officials; clerical
workers; sales persons; semi-professional and recreational workers; and
telephone, telegraph, and radio operators.
-2-
5531
employed, in contrast with 4 percent of the unattached ncn and 5 percent
of the male heads of family groups. (See Table 2.) In considering these
comparisons, it must be borne in mind that women represented only a little
over 2 percent of the unattached and approximately 15 percent of the heads
of family groups. Moreover, the ..iuch higher proportion of women who had
never worked is, of course, the result of their unpaid activities in the
home before migration.
A comparison of the proportions of men and women who have done
gainful work but who havo no usual occupation shows that among the un¬
attached the proportion was slightly lower for the women than for the
men. This finding is explained by the presence of a larger proportion
of women 45 years of age and older than is the case with mer&/. Among
the heads of family groups the proportion of women who had done gainful
work but who had no usual occupation was imich larger than the proportion
of men. Indeed, over half (55 percent) of the women heads of family groups
had either never done gainful work or had no usual occupation, naturally
not an unexpected, situation.
Turning now to a comparison of the occupations reported by men and
women in the transient population, it is found that about two-thirds of
both the unattached women and those at the head of family groups were clas¬
sified either as semi-skilled or as servants and allied workers. The pro¬
portion of women in both of these occupational groups was higher than the
proportion of men; but the contrast was most marked in the case of the
servant and allied worker group. The higher proportion of women reporting
semi-skilled occupations reflects the inclusion of operatives in laundries
and dry-cleaning establishments, where women constitute a considerable part
of the labor supply. The proportion of women was also higher in three
other occupational groups: professional persons (principally nurses),
clerical workers, and sa.les persons. There was a noticeable lack of women
in the skilled and unskilled groups, and, to a lesser extent, in the pro¬
prietors, managers, and officials group.
Up to this point the discussion of the occupational characteristics
of the transient unemployed has been basod upon broad occupational groups,
i.e., unskilled, serai-ski lied, servant and allied workers, etc. A more
detailed account of the occupations subsumed in those general groupings
is given in Table 3, and in the discussion which follows.
Unskilled workers. Approximately 31 percent of the unattached
and 22 percent of the heads of family groups reported unskilled occupa¬
tions. In each case nea.rly one-half were farm laborers} principally
depression in agriculture, the crop reduction program, end drought condi¬
tions have contributed to transiency by lessening the opportunities for
employment in rural areas, thereby forcing the worker to choose between
seeking v»ork elsewhere or depending on local relief. Moreover, the move¬
ment of surplus population from rural to urban .areas, which "'as reversed
during 1930, 1931, and 1932, has been resumed^'; and it seems likely that
part of the rural-urban flow appears, temporarily at least, in the tran¬
sient population.
17 For a further discussion of age and sex, see Transients in March 1935,
F.E.E.A. Research Bulletin Tr-5.
3/ See U. S. Dept. of Agriculture bulletin Farm Population Estimates,
January 1, 1935; released May 2, 1935.
-3-
Conmon laborers likewise account for a considerable portion of
the unskilled group. Approximately 11 percent of the unattached and
8 percent of the heads of family groups were classified as common la¬
borers from such industries as manufacturing, merchandising, public
utilities, building and construction, service, etc. In addition to
these two, the only other important group of unskilled workers were
formerly attached to the mining and oil well industries — 3 percent of
the unattached and 2 percent of the heads of families.
Semi-skilled workers. Occupations requiring some skill and
training were reported by 23 percent of the unattached and by 20 per¬
cent of the heads of family groups. Chauffeurs, deliverymen, truck and
tractor drivers comprised one-third of this semi-skilled group; and a
like proportion was made up of operatives in factories, laundries, and
dry-cleaning establishments.
The balance of the seai-skilied reported a wide range of occupa¬
tions of which maritime employments among the unattached, and service
employments among the heads of family groups were the most important.
Skilled workers. Of the 17 percent of the unattached and the
20 percent of the heads of family groups who reported skilled manual
occupations, well over half were cither building and construction workers
or skilled mechanics. Skilled building and construction- workers repre¬
sented 8 percent of all unattached transients reporting a usual occupation
and 0 percent of the heads of family groups. Among these workers, painters,
paper hangers, and carpenters occurred most frequently. If to the skilled
building and construction workers the unskilled laborers attached to this
industry are added, it is found that approximately 12 percent of both un¬
attached transients and heads of family groups wore from the building and
construction industry.
Servants and allied workers. About 11 percent of the unattached
and 8 percent of the family group heads came under the category of ser¬
vants and allied workers, which includes bootblacks, charwomen, elevator
tenders, janitors, sextons, porters, domestic servants, and similar pur¬
suits requiring little skill or, training. About nine-tenths of those
included were domestic servants, waiters, and waitresses.
Sales persons. Of the "white-collar" classifications, persons
usually employed in the salp of goods and services ranked first among
the unattached (6 percent) and second among the heads of transient families
(8 percent). Although sales persons in all lines of commercial activity
are brought into this classification, most of them came from retail stores.
Clerical workers. While the proportions included in this group
aro not large, it is the only one of the "white-collar" classifications in
|7Includes brick and stone masons and tilo layers, carpenters, electri¬
cians, painters and paper hangers, plasterers and cement finishers,
plumbers and gas and steam fitters, roofers and slaters, and structural
iron workers.
-4-
5551
which unattached transients are proportionately more numerous than
heads of family groups. However, since general clerical workers were
reported much more frequently than were such semi-skilled workers as
typists and stenographers, it would seem that this group does not pro¬
vide an exception to the conclusion that family group heads represent
a higher economic level in the general population,
Proprietors, managers, and officials. Agricultural proprietors
and managers, and wholesale and retail dealers were most important in
this group, which comprised nea.r]y 15 percent of the heads of families,
in contrast with only ahout 4 percent of the unattached. This category
represents the most marked occupational difference "between the unattached
transients and heads of family groups. However, it must be remembered
that the family heads are, as a group, somewhat older and tnerefore have
had more opportunity to rice to the proprietary class. Moreoever, the
inclusion of tenant fanners in the proprietary group tends to overweight
this classification, for the tenant farmer frequently represents a posi¬
tion in the economic scale no tetter than that occupied by the common
laborer.
Professional persons; j?emi-professicnal and recreational workers;
telephone, telegraph, and radio operators. The proportion of professional •
and technical persons in the transient population is small. Among the
February registrants, only 3 percent of the unattached and 5 percent of
the heads of family groups reported occupations falling under these three
classifications, which include the more highly skilled of the "white-
collar" pursuits.
Age. From the standpoint of age, the great majority of the tran¬
sient unemployed are employable. A®hng the unattached, 41 percent were
25 years of age, 71 percent under 35, and only 13 percent were 45 or
older. While the heads of families as a group were somewhat older than
the unattached, only 19 percent of them were 45 years of age or older.
(See Table 4.) The age concentration for both groups was between 20 and
35 years; this age interval include? 57 percent of the unattached and 55
percent of the heads of family groups. Considering that unskilled and
semi-skilled manual workers predominate, it would seem that the majority
of the transient unemployed are of an age when their efforts should be
most productive.
Bmployabi1ity, Factors such as age, usual occupation, and employ¬
ment status determine employability in large measure. Although very few
of the February registrants had employment at the tine of registration,
96 percent of the unattached and 88 percent of the heads of family groups
were reported as able and willing to work. (See Table 5.) The reason
given most frequently by the unattached for their inability to work was
"temporary disability"; while half of the heads of family groups reported
as unable to work were women with families.
The data bearing on the employability of the transient unemployed
may therefore be summarized as follows; the great majority are men be¬
tween the ages of 20 and 45 years, who have a usual occupation and are
able and willing to work. While the proportion of women who have never
-5-
55S1
worked, have no usual occupation, or are unable to work is much higher
than in the case of men, women comprise a relatively small part of the
transient population and to a great extent are members of family groups,
normally supported by the male head. Unskilled and semi-skilled workers
predominate (including servants and allied workers), but there is included
a representative number of skilled mechanics, cerpenters, painters, brick
masons, foremen, contractors, and "white-collar11 workers, most of whom
want nothing more than an opportunity to resume productive activities.
Table la. Usual Occupations of Transients Registered for Relief in 13 Cities, February 1935
—Unattached—
—— ... ' "■ ■■ 1 1 - -
Cities
""
Occupation
Total
Bos¬
""Chi¬
" Dal-'
Den¬
Jack¬
Kansas
: Los
Mem¬
Minne¬
Hew
Phoe¬
- Pitts¬
- Se¬
ton
cago
las
ver
son¬
City
Ang¬
phis
apolis
Or¬
nix
burgh
attle
ville
eles
leans
All persons:
Lumber ......
19,0C3
J4.50
1302
1273
107:J
619
1GC8
3663
2S08
853
3096
652
736
878
Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
1C0.0
100, U
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Fever worked
I1-.8
13.6
5-. 5
U.5
3.2
5.0
2.5
2.8
3.6
3.1
8.8
3.5-
7.2
6.5-
Pot ascertainable. . .
0.5
1.1
1.0
-
0.7
-
C.l
o.U
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.5
Uo usual occupation. .
12. h
9.6
9.5
13.6
22. k
19.2
17.0
12.0
1U.7
6.2
10.7
13.8
5-. 9
3.1
'Tith usual occupation
82.5
75.7
36.1
82.1
73.7
75.8
80.
81+. 8
01.7
90.7
80.2
82.6
07.0
90.0
With usual occupation:
Number
15,681
3Ui
1119
105-3
789
)69
li;53
3107
2129
773
25-83
539
65-6
791
Percent. . • • . .
1CO.O
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
"100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
10c. 0
100.0
100.0
Professional persons .
2.5
2.6
2.3
2.5
2.5
3.2
2.3
2.5
2.6
1.2
2.8
2.6
2.6
1.6
Proprietors, managers,
and officials. . . .
3.5
2.9
3.6
5.6
3.9
5.5
3.o
2.7
5-.1
2.7
5.5.
5.5-
2.6
3.5
Clerical workers . . .
5.3
3.5
7.1
F.O
J« ✓
9.0
U.3
5.9
5.U
1.5-
7.3
5.5.
U.6
3.0
Gales persons . . . .
6.1
3-8
n 0
1
7.5
7 ^
J* 1
7.9
5.3
7.6
5-. 6
— r-
8.0
2.0
6.3
U.5-
Semi-professional and
recreational workers
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.1+
0.1
0J4.
0.2
o.U
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.8
0.1
Telephone, telegraph,
and radio operators
0.3
0.3
n.6
0.7
0.1
0.6
0.2
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3
Skilled workers. . . .
16.9
18.2
15.7
16.9
1U.5
19.4
17.7
16,7
16.2
36.7
17.7
21.1
17.2
15.3
Semi-skilled workers .
23.0
28.5
25.6
20.5
19.7
25.0
22.9
22.2
23.0
17.9
28.1
19.1
20.6
19.5-
Unskilled workers. . .
30.9
22.3
22.1
31.7
I4P.1
16.0
35.0
2<8.5
36.3
56.8
21.9
32.5
56.1
5-3.3
Servants and allied
workers
11.3
17.6
15*5-
10.2
11.5
13.0
11.3
13. k
8.2
9.6
10. h
11.7
9.0
9.1
V
V
V
Table lb. Usual Occupations of Transients Registered for Pelief in 13 Cities, February 1935
—Heads of family groups-
Cities
Occupation
Total
Bos¬
Chi¬
Dal¬
a ,:n-
Juck-
Kansas Los
jlcm-
Ilinne-
Hew
Phoe¬
Pitts¬
Se-
ton
cago
las
ver
son-
City Ang-
phi s
apolis
Or¬
nix
burgh
attli
ville
oles
leans
All persons:
-
Humbor
28
- r* /
loo
2,-7
^22
103
lip U4
153
51
142
19
21
77
Percent.
100 G
i, a,
100.0
ICQ. (J
]00.0
100.0
100.0 100.0
10O.0
100.0
100.0
(a)
(a)
100.0
lievor worked
- 6.6
0.5
4.4
4. 1
4.9
ll.-1 10.1
4.6
i • <->
4.2
9.1
Hot ascertainable. . .
0.1;
-
1.1
--
7.9
-
1.1,-
-
-
-
-
-
Ho usual occupation. .
4.4
-
12.9
5.5
10.7
l.c
- 1.7
3 • y
7.8
2.1
-
-
1.3
With usual cccuoation.
88.6
-
85.5
>0.3
82.7
9U.1-
67.6 86.2
91.5
6 J4.4
95.7
-
-
89.6
Y,ribh usual occupation:
Lumber 1U79 - 159 16? 1-1 97 123 365 ll+O 1$ 133 - - 69
Percent 10O.0 - IC'J.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 IO0.6 100.0 100.0 100.0 - - 100.0
Professional persons .
3.9 -
3.8
3*7
4.'-'
4.1
i r-7
4.7
4.7
1.4
4.7
5»3
-
-
1.5
Proprietors, managers,
and officials. . . .
14.6 -
15.1
15.0
17.3
H.3
12.5
17.9
11.4
13.9
11.3
-
5.8
Clerical workers . . .
2.7 "
5.0
3.2
2.G
3.1
:.3
3.3
2.9
4.7
c.7
-
-
1.5
Sales persons .....
7.6 -
5.0
5.4
1 G O
G 7
J
3.9
11.2
2.9
11.6
6.0
-
-
10.1
Semi-professional and
recreational workers
0.5 -
-
a. 5
-
-
-
0.6
0.7
—
—
Telephone, telegraph
and radio operators.
0.0 -
2.5
-
-
2.1
C .6
0.6
—
«•
0.7
2.9
Skilled workers. . . .
20.0
12.0
20.6
I7). 8
31.9
17.2
18.6
25.7
2.3
27.1
0.7
Semi-skilled workers .
00 p
.V.
21.4
12.8
°2.G
15-5
18.7
23.3
22.1
10.6
19.5
24-. 7
Unskilled workers. . .
22.0 -
23.9
24*6
n ■"* 0
JL> #U
~] ^ £
«o
00 -1
C-O # J-
12.-?
on pb
Cf • a-
34.9
22.6
_
33-3
Servants and allied
workers .......
8.1 -
11.3
6.0
At
9.9
3.1
13.3
5.7
5.7
9.3
/ .
—
—
11.5
(a) Percentage not computed because
of small nuj
rubers
Jnvolv
ed.
Table 2. Sex and. Usual Occupations of Transients Registered for Relief
in 13 Cities., February 1935-
Occupation
Unattached
Heads
of families
Total
Male
Female
Total
Male
Female
All persons:
Number .
19,008
18,601
I1O7
1,669
1,1+15
25l+
Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Never worked .
'4.8
1+.3
26.8
6.6
0.5
1+0.6.
Not ascertainable
0.3
c.3
1.5
0.1,
O.li
0.1+
rjo usual occupation . . , . ,
12. 1+
12. h
10.6
] !
2.6
11+.2
With usual occupations. . . .
82.5
83.0
61.1
88.6
96.5
1+1+.8
With usual occupation:
Number. ...
15,681
15,1+31+
2l+7
1,1+79
1,365
lll+
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Professional persons . , . .
2.5
2.3
10.1
3.°
CO
.
N-\
1+.U
Proprietors, managers and
1I+.6
officials
3.5
3.5
2.1+
15.1+
5.3
Clerical workers
5.3
5.3
6.9
2.7
2.6
3.5
Sales persons
6.1
6,0
10.1
7.6
7.1+
9.6
Semi-professional and
recreational workers . .
0.2
0.2
0.1+
0.3
0.3
—
Telephone, telegraoh, and
radio operators
0.3
0.3
2.1+
0.8
0.6
3.5
Skilled workers
16.9
17.2
0.1+
20.0
21.5
1.8
Semi-skilled workers . . . .
23.0
23.0
25.1
20.0
18.7
36.0
Unskilled workers ......
30.9
31.1+
2.9
22.0
23.6
3.5
Servants and allied workers •
11.3
10.8
39.3
3.1
6.1
70 1 ,
-9-
5531
Table 3. Usual Occupations of Transient Unemployed Registered for
Relief in 13 Cities, for February 1935
Occupation
Unattached
Heads of
families
ALL PERSONS
Number » . .
1,669
Percent, ,
100. c
100.0
Never worked
4.8
6.6
Hot ascertainable
0.3
0.4
No usual occupation
12.4
4.4
With, usual occupation
82.5
88,6
WITH USUAL OCCUPATION
Number
1,479
100.0
100.0
Professional persons: .
•
2.5
3.9
Actors and showmen ...."
0.6
0.6
Artists, sculntors and teachers of art . . .
•
0.1
-
Designers, draftsmen, inventors, and architec
s.
0.1
0.2
Musicians and teachers of music
•
0,5
1.0
Physicians, dentists, veterinary surgeons, and
osteopaths
0.1
0.1
Teachers (school and college) .
•
0.2
0.3
Technical engineers and chemists
•
0.3
0.6
Trained nurses
•
0.2
-
Cther professional persons:
Clergymen; authors, editors and reporters,
lawyers, judges and justices; photographers
county agents, farm demonstrators; lioraria
s;
social and welfare workers;, and all other
professional workers
0.4
1.1
Proprietors, managers, and officials: ....
•
3.5
14.6
Agricultural proprietors and managers. . . .
«
1.3
9.3
Builders enl building contractors
*
0.4
Hotel and restaurant keepers and managers
•
0.3
0.7
Manufacturers, proprietors, managers and
officials (not elsewhere classified) . . .
•
0.7
1.7
Who1 asale and retail dealers
1.2
2.5
Clerical workers:
5.3
2.7
Bookkeepers, cashiers, and accountants . . .
•
1.2
0.3
Clerical workers (proper)
3.5
1.6
Quasi-clerical workers (Express agents, expres
s
messengers, railway clerks, mail carriers,
ticket and station agents, baggagemen and
freight agents) .....
*
0.1
Office boys, telegraph and other messengers. .
•
0,3
-
Stenographers and typists. ,
•
0.3
0.2
5531
-10-
Table 3. (Continued)
Occupation
Una
ttached
Heads
Pnnil
Sales persons;
6.1
7.6
Advertising agents
•
0.2
0.3
Agents, collectors and creditmen. . , . . ,
•
0.1
0.4
Commercial travelers
0.3
0.3
newsboys
0.2
-
Real estate and insurance agents
•
0.3
0.3
Salesmen and saleswomen (proper)
•
5.0
6.5
Semi-professional and recreational workers; .
0.2
0. o
Abstractors, apprentices to professional per
sons
»
chiropractors, healers, officials of lodge
s, etc,
religious workers, and technicians . . .
•
*
0.2
Proprietors, managers end officials in recrea¬
tional oursuits
0.1
0.1
Other semi-professional and recreational workers
0.1
-
Telephone, telegraph and radio operators; . .
0.3
0.8
Telephone operators
0.1
0.3
Telegraph and radio o"aerators
0.2
0.5
16.9
20.0
Blacksmiths, forgemen, and hammermen . . .
•
0.4
0.6
Boilermakers
0.2
0.2
Brick and stone masons and tile layers , .
•
0.4
0.3
Cabinet makers
0.1
-
Carpenters
1.4
1.6
Electricians
0.8
0.6
Engineers (stationary), cranemen, hoistmen,
etc.
0.7
0.4
Locomotive engineers and firemen
•
0.3
0.7
Machinists, millwrights and tool makers , .
•
1.4
1.5
Mechanics, (not otherwise specified). . . .
•
2.6
4.8
Molders, founders, and casters (metal). . .
m
0 • a
0.2
Painters, enamelers, varnishers (bldg.) and
paper hangers . . . .
3.0
4.7
Painters, glaciers, enamelers, and varnishers in
factories
0.4
0.3
Pattern and model makers
•
*
-
Plasterers and cement finishers
•
0,3
0.5
Plumbers and gas and steam fitters ....
0.9
0.6
Rollers and roll hands (metal)
0.1
-
Roofers and slaters
0.2
0.1
Sawyers .
0.2
0.4
Shoemakers and cobblers (not in factory) ,
•
0. «-*>
0.1
Structural iron workers (bldg.)
0.5
0.3
Tailors and tailoresses
0.3
0.1
Tinsmiths and coppersmiths .
•
0,3
0.2
Upholsterers
0.2
0.1
Skilled workers in printing, publishing and
engraving
•
0.6
0.1
Skilled workers (not elsewhere classified).
•
0. 5
0.8
5551
-11-
Table 3. (Continued)
Occnxaticn Unattacnod I . 0j"
I Families
Skilled workers (Continued)
Foremen, overseers ana inspectors (except
inspectors and foremen in lumber camps,
and inspectors in factories, and foremen
in laundries and cleaning establishments) .
0.5
0.3
Semi-skilled rorkers: . • . . • «.
05.0
20.0
Bakers ....... .
C.7
0.9
Barbers, hairdressers, and manicurists . . .
O.S
0.7
Boarding and lodging house keepers
*
0.1
Boiler washers and engine hostlers .....
*
-
Brakomen
0, 5
0.1
Chauffeurs, deliverynen, truck and tractor
drivers
7.4
6.3
Assistants and attendants to professional
persons ......... .........
*
-
Attendants and helpers (professional service^
recreation and amusement) .........
0.4
i—!
*
O
Laborers (professional service, recreation
and amusement) ....
0.2
0.1
Dressmakers, seamstresses and milliners . . .
*
0.1
Filers, grinders buffers, and polishers
(metal) .
0.3
0.3
Housekeepers, stewards, and practical nurses
0.6
1.2
Oilers of machinery ....
0.2
0.2
Operatives: ..........
8.1
7.5
Operatives in building trades .
C.l
0.1
Operatives in cigar factories .......
0.1
0.1
Operatives in clothing factories
0.3
0.5
Operatives in other factories,laundries,
and dry-cleaning establishments
7.6
6.8
Sailors, deck hands, boatmen, and canal men. ,
1.7
Switchmen, flagmen, and yardmen .......
0.4
0.4
Telegraph and telephone linemen
0.3
0.3
Watchmen, guards and doorkeepers ......
0.2
0.1
Other workers (semi-skilled) ...
1.4
1.6
Unskilled workers:
30,9
22.0
Draymen, teamsters, 'and expressmen
0.4
0.3
Farm laborers:
14.0
9.7
General farm
8.4
5,5
Grain farm .....
0.8
0.4
Stock farm ................
0.9
0.5
Cotton farm . .......
1.2
"1.1
-12-
5531
Table 3. (Continued)
" 1 ^
He acts of
Occupation Unattached
Families
Unskilled workers: (Continued)
Farm laborers (Continued)
Tobacco "farm
0.1
C.l
Dairy farm
0.8
0.5
Poultry farm
0.1
0.1
Fruit and berry farm (vineyards and nuts).
0.5
0.3
Truck f arm
0.5
0.5
Nurseries
0.1
0.2
Green houses
*
*
Small animal breeding farms
*
Other single crop farms (sugar beet, cranberry,
hop, etc.)
0.3
0.3
Gardeners, landscape laborers, etc ....
0.3
0.2
Firemen (except locomotive ani fire department)
0.9
0.3
Fishermen and oysternen. ....
0.2
0.1
Furn-acemen, smelternen, heaters and pacifiers.
0.1
0.1
Longshoremen and stevedores
0.4
0.3
Lumbermen, raftsmen, and woodc.hoppers ....
0.8
0.6
Miners, oil, gas, and salt well operatives . .
2.9
2.4
Laborers (not elsewhere classified)
11.2
8.2
Servants and allied workers:
11.3
8.1
Bootblacks
0.1
-
Charwomen .....
0.1
0.2
Elevator tenders
0.1
0.2
Janitors and sextons
0.5
0.4
Porters
0.6
0.2
Servants
7.0
b.6
baiters, p-ritrosras and bartender.'
2.9
'1.5
* Lose than one-he.li ox one percent.
-13-
Table 4. Age of Transients Registered for Relief in 13
Cities, Classified by Age Groups, February 1935
Age Groups
Unattached
Heads of Family
Groups
llumber .
Percent
Under 16 years
16 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years .
55 to 64 years .
65 years and over
19,008
100
14
27
30
16
9
3
1
1,669
100
1
16
39
25
12
5
2
* Less than one-
half of one percent.
Table 5. Employment Status of Transients Registered
for Relief in 13 Cities, February 1935
Employment Status Unattached Eeachs of Family
All CLASSES
Number
1,669
Percent
100
100
Employed, a/
*
2
Unemployed
98
Able to work
96
88
Willing
96
88
Unable to work
4
10
Temporary disability . .
2
2
Permanent disability . .
1
2
Housework (unpaid) . . .
*
•
5
Too old . ,
1
* Less than one-half of one percent,
a/ A transient is considered employed when he is actu¬
ally working in the community of registration or when
he has secured employment in some other community and
is on his way to that job.
Illllllill
1
[HI
III
HI
1
!
3 555
6 043
375
7
cuments
fioow
n
5940
federal emergency relief administration
Harry L. Hopkins, Administrator
DIVISION OF RESEARCH, STATISTICS AND FINANCE
Corrington Gill
RESEARCH SECTION
Howard. B. Myers
•^stern U"^
FEB 22 1937
Aibra0^-
tijaU«s.4»n
SCHOOLING OF TRANSIENTS AND RESIDENT HOMELESS
July 20, 1935
TR~7
This report on the schooling of transients and resident homeless
is "based on a study of individuals and family groups registered
for relief at Transient Service Bureaus in 13 cities during Sept¬
ember 1934, The cities were selected because of their importance
as transient centers and because they represent widely separated
parts of the country and diverse industrial backgrounds. The
cities are:
Eoston Denver Los Angeles Hew Orleans
Chicago Jacksonville (Bla.) Memphis Phoenix
Dallas Kansas City (Mo,) Minneapolis Pittsburgh
Seattle
Prepared by John N. Webb and Paul-P. Coe
5940
suMibhiY
Contrary to tho oxpoctations of many casual observers, the
transients are fairly well educated. Of all unattached transients
covered "by the present study, two-thirds had been graduated from
grammar school and one-sixth from high school, according to their
own statements. The heads of transient family groups reported some¬
what shorter periods of schooling than the unattached, but longer
periods than the resident homeless who received relief from the
Transient Bureaus.
Native white transients showed a marked superiority over
tho other racial groups in amount of school completed. Eight¬
een percent of the native white transients had been graduated from
high school, a proportion almost twice as largo as that of any
other racial group. A comparison of tho median grades completed
by each of the four racial groups provides a significant measure
of these differences. The medians are: native white, eighth
grade; foreign-born white, seventh grade; and Negro and Mexican,
sixth grade. Thus it is evident that tho foroign-born white
transients fall somewhat behind the nativo white transients in
the amount of schooling completed while the Negro and Mexican
transients lag behind the white transients by a considerable
margin.
Above tho age group 18-19 years, tho higher the age group
the lower the educational attainments. Prior to age 18, as would
be expected, the amount of schooling completed increases with tho
age level. The inverse relationship between age and education in
the adult ago groups is probably explained by the improved school
facilities and by the increasingly higher ago limits for leaving
school and entering industrial life which have been established
since the older transients were of school ago.
Apparently the amount of schooling completed by transients
varios according to the different parts of the country in which the
transients register, Nor oxamplc, in Jacksonville, Memphis, Dallas,
and New Orleans, transients have completed the fewest years of for¬
mal education, a fact which reflects to some extent the lower educa¬
tional standards of the South where many of the transients register¬
ing in those cities originate. Transients registered in Boston, too.
have relatively little educational experience, largely duo to the high
proportion of foreign-born and adult seamen among Boston transients.
In the West (Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver) where the transients
are unusually young, their educational status is the highest found in
any of the cities studied.
-1-
5940
SCHOOLING OE TRANSIENTS AND RESIDENT HOMELESS
Residence status and education. Measured in terms of school years
completed, the transient population is a fairly well-educated group.
Only 2 percent of the unattached registrants in September, 1934, had
had no schooling; 56 percent had attended only grade school, completing
one to eight years; 38 percent had completed their education with one to
four years of high school; and 4 percent had had one to four years of
college.
Another index of the educational level of unattached transients is
the proportion that had completed the entire course in each of the three
divisions in the educational system: grade school, high school, and col¬
lege.—' Graduates only of grade school constituted 26 percent, graduates
only of high school, 13 percent, and college graduates 1 percent of the
unattached group.
But perhaps the best indication of the educational level of this
group is that more than two thirds (68 percent) had had at least a grade
school education. (See Table A.)
Table A.
Education of
Transient and
Homeless Persons
(Percent distribution)
Transient
Resident Homeless
Education
Unattached
Heads of
Unattached
family groups
Number
26,898
2,122
4,338
Total:
Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
None
2.0
3.3
6.1
Grade school
56.1
59.6
71.1
Incompleted
29.8
34.7
43.2
Completed
26.3
24.9
27.9
High school
38.0
32.1
20.2
Incompleted
25.1
19.1
13.2
Completed
12.9
13.0
7.0
College
3.7
4.6
2.3
Incompleted
2.8
3.2
1.6
Completed
0.9
1.4
0.7
Post graduate
0.2
0.2
0.2
Not ascertainable *
0.2
0.1
Median grade completed 8
8
8
*Less than ,05 percent.
l/ These data were collected in terms of actual years of schooling com¬
pleted in grade school, high school, and college; but in this report grade
school is taken to consist of eight years, and high school and college of
four years each. The answer "completed grade school" was not accepted
unless it reported eight years of schooling, and the answer was entered
in terms of years. There were a few cases where grade school had consisted
of but 6 or 7 years; and, although the individual reported the completion
of grade school, the entry was the actual number of years completed. A
similar procedure was followed in reporting high school and college atten¬
dance.
-2-
5940
Heads of transient family groups reported a slightly lower level of
schooling completed: 5 percent of them had had no schooling; 60 percent
had left school either before or at the completion of the eighth grade;
32 percent had attended high school, 13 percent completing the four years,
hut had not attended college; 5 percent attended college, and 1 percent
were college graduates. While the total schooling reported by family
heads amounts to slightly less than that reported by unattached transients,
the proportions completing grade school, highschocl, and college are
about the same as for the unattached transients. The difference, then, lies
principally in the larger proportion of family heads who left school before
the comoletion of the graic school period. Since the heads of family groups
arc, on tho whole, somewhat older than the unattached, the difference in
schooling is in part the result of tho improvement in school facilities
and tho spread of compulsory scneol attendance since the elder transients
were of school age.
The unattached resident homeless, that is, those individuals who
have legal settlement in the community tut are homeless, reported a lower
level of completed schooling than did either the unattached transients or
the heads of transient family groups. Six percent of the resident homeless
had had no schooling, 45 percent had not completed the eithtJa grade, and
only 23 percent had continued beyond grade school, in contrast with 42 per¬
cent of the unattached transients and with 37 percent of the heads of tran¬
sient families. As in the case of tho heads of family groups, the lower
level of schooling of the resident homeless is associated with the higher
average age of this group. In fact, there appears to be a fairly consistent
inverse relationship between age and completed schooling amorir both the
transients and the resident homeless 13 yeans of age and older. (See dis¬
cussion of Age and education below.)
Although the unattached transients, the transient family heads, and
the resident homeless differ as to the median number of school years com¬
pleted, there is close agreement in the proportion of those in each group
whose education terminated at the completion of the eighth grade. This is
apparent from Chart A which shows tne distribution of school years com¬
pleted for each of the three groups, and from a comparison of the
proportions of the three groups whose schooling terminated in each year.
Completion of the eighth grade ended the schooling of 26 percent of the
unattached, 25 percent of the heads of family groups, and 28 percent of
the resident homeless. This pronounced concentration at the eighth grade
affects the median school year completed, which is the eighth grade for
each of the thru .croups. There are two circumstances which help to ex¬
plain this particular concentration: (l) the spread of legislation making
school attendance compulsory at least until the age of 14, and frequently
until the age of 16; ana (2) the Imown tendency cf persons, out of pride
or carelessness, to report the completion of grade school when they actu¬
ally stopped somewhat sliert of that point.
Color or race education. Distinct differences were found in the
educational levels of the different racial groups, Among the unattached,
native whites reported Che smallest ••ereentrigo with no schooling completed,
and Negroes and Mexicans the largest, (See Appendix Table I and Chart B.)
5940
3 -
Native whites were the best educated, of the racial groups: 45 percent of
them had continued their formal schooling beyond the eighth grade, in con¬
trast with only 22 percent of both foreign-born whites and Negroes, and
with 19 percent of Mexicans, The favored position of the native whites in
terms of completed schooling'is likewise shown by comparison of the propor¬
tions of each racial group that had a high school education or better: nat¬
ive whites, 18 percent; foreign-born whites, 12 percent; Negroes, 5 percent;
and Mexicans, 3 percent, (See Appendix Table I,)
The median year of completed schooling was eight for native whites,
seven for foreign-born whites, and six for both Negroes and Mexicans; but,
because of the concentration in the grade school period for each group, the
median years of completed schooling fail to show the differences in schooling
between the racial groups as clearly as do the diagrams in Chart B. This
chart emphasizes the following facts: In the native white group there is
a great concentration at the eighth grade, an important secondary peak at
the twelfth grade, and a large percentage of cases above the median year.
The foreign-born white group conforms fairly closely to the native white, ex¬
cept that a larger proportion of cases lies below the median year, for the
Negroes, the diagram shows the least contrast between the percentages of
those whose schooling ended at different years during the grade school
period. While the median year completed by Negroes was the sixth grade,
the point of greatest concentration was, as in the case of the other racial
groups, the eighth grade. The distribution in the diagram for Mexicans is
the most irregular and the most highly concentrated at the lower grade
level.
Age and education. An analysis of the schooling completed by un¬
attached transients by age group reveals some -.ntorcstirg facts which are
consistent with expectations. The lowest ago group, composed of those under
16 years, had the least educational, experience. Obviously they had not had
the time to complete as many years of schooling as had those in the older
groups. Doubtless this group consisted erode, ilnnntly of youths about 15
years old, since 65 percent of them had completed seven years or more of
schooling. (See Appendix Table Ila and Chart C.) The proportion of those
who had completed 7 or more years of schooling increased to 83 percent for
the 16-17 year group, and to 85 percent for the 18-19 year group. This
latter group (18-19) had had tru most schooling of any of the a.ge groups in
the transient population; loss than 1 percent of them had failed to finish
at least one year of school and only 23.9 percent had failed to complete
grade school.
The age group 20-24 years reported the largest percentages of high
school graduates (2i), and the lowest percentage (.23,5) that had failed to
complete as rmich as eight years of schooling. In the higher age groups thorc
is, in general, a gradual decline in the proportions of transients who had .
extended their formed education beyond the grade school period, although
the 35-44 year age group shows the highest percentage of college graduates.
A comparison of the age group analysis for unattached transients
with that for heads of family transient groups shows that the unattached
transients between 25 and 35 years of age had a higher level of complet¬
ed schooling; that there is little difference between the two groups in the
cduca.tional level of those between 35 and 44 years of age; and that the cdu-
5940
- 4 -
cational level of those 45 years and. older is lower for the unattached than
for the heads of family groups. Probably the presence of a larger propor¬
tion of older habitual transients among the unattached transients accounts
for their inferior educational rating when compared with the family heads.
The tendency for the educational level to be lower in the higher age groups
is oven more marked for the resident homeless them for the unattached. The
percentages of the homeless with no schooling rise from 1.3 percent for
those 25-34 years of age to 9.1 percent for those 45 years of age and older.
(See Appendix Table lib.)
City of registration and education. An examination of the data
on schooling of transients and resident homeless for the several cities
included in this study disclosed rather marked differences between cities.
For example, it is immediately evident that among unattached transients
registered in the Southern cities of Jacksonville, Memphis, Dallas, and
New Orleans, a distinctly larger proportion had completed less than eight
years of schooling than was true of registrants in other cities. (See
Appendix Table Ilia for summarized data, and Appendix Table IVa for com¬
plete details.) Since there is evidence to show that in most of the cities
studied a considerable proportion of transients come from .contiguous areas,
it may be assumed that the figures reported from each city reflect to some
extent the level of educational achievement of the persons living in the
surrounding area. The extent to which this is true depends upon whether
the city is a stop—over point for transients from all parts of the country,
or is merely the focal point of a local migration within the area. How¬
ever, in either case there was a sufficient number of transients from the
area in which the city is located to affect materially the data secured
from the total registration.
This low '""educational level of registrants in Jacksonville, Memphis,
Dallas, and Now Orleans probably reflects the low educational standards of
the South and is even more significant in view of the fact that all of these
cities have high proportions of young transients, who in general in this
study were found to be better educated than older ones. In Jacksonville and
in Memphis there is a high percentage of Negro registrants for whom educational
facilities and opportunities are especially deficient. Doubtless this racial
factor further operates to lower the average grade completed in those cities.
That the educational level of the transients registered in a city docs
not always reflect the educational level of that locality, however, is shown
in the case of Boston. Registrants at the Transient Bureaus in that city
were somewhat below average in the amount of education completed, although
the education facilities of New England are distinctly above average. The
explanation of this anomaly lies in the large representation of foreign-born
and seamen among Boston transients. Seamen registered at Transient Bureaus
are generally found in the lower brackets of the educational scale, and more¬
over are of more mature years than other groups in the transient relief popu¬
lation. (As was pointed out earlier in this bulletin, there is a tendency
for the older transients to report less schooling completed than do the younger
ones.)
Seattle, Los Angeles, and Denver proved to be the cities whose transient
registrants had completed the most schooling. In the case of Seattle, 60 per¬
cent had completed from 8 to 11 years of schooling; and 18 percent had com¬
pleted 12 or more years. In Denver, 58 percent had completed 8 to 11 years;
-5-
59*0
and. 20 percent had finished twelve or more years. In Los Angeles 56 percent
had completed 8 to 11 years; and 21 percent had completed twelve or more years.
A probable explanation of the mediocre school record of transients
registered in Chicago and Pittsburgh is the large percentage of Negroes and
foreign-born whites in their transient populations. In Chicago only 51 per¬
cent had completed 8 to 11 years and 18 percent had completed high school.
In Pittsburgh the proportions were 52 percent 8 to 11 years, and 13 percent
high school. The averages for all cities were 51 and 17 percent.
The heads of transient family groups showed the same general varia¬
tions between cities as did the unattached. Por example, those registered
in Boston, Dallas, and Jacksonville were low in educational experience, while
those in Denver, Los Angeles, and Seattle had high levels of schooling. In
the other seven cities included in this study the educational level was about
average, with the eighth grade the median year completed. (See Appendix Table
Illb for summarized data, and Appendix Table IVb for complete details.)
The educational level of the resident homeless in the 13 cities varied
in much the same manner as did that of the transients. This fact offers fur¬
ther support for the belief that in general the different levels of educational
achievement reported by transients reflect disparities in educational advan¬
tages between the geographical divisions where the cities of registration are
located.
5940
Tabic I. Pace and. Education of Unattached Transients Pegisterod
in 13 Cities, September, 1934.
(Percent distribution)
W-. ito
Education All Native foreign Negro Mexican Other
race s born
TOTAL
Number. .
. 26,898
22,954-
1,321
2,340
198
85
Percent .
. 100.0
1C0.0
100.0
1 ,0.0
100.0
(a)
None . . . . ,
2.0
1.0
5.8
9,1
8.6
Grade School .
. 56.1
53.7
71.8
63.5
72.3
-
Incompleted
. . 29.8
26.1
46.7
53.1
57.1
-
Completed .
. . 26.3
27.6
25,1
15.4
15.7
High school, .
. 38.0
41,1
19N3
21,6
16,1
-
Incompleted.
. 25.1
27.0
10.8
17.1
16". 1
-
Completed .
. . 12.9
14,1
8.7
1.5
2.0
-
College. . . .
. . 3.7
4.0
2.5
0.8
0.5
-
Incompleted
. . 2.8
3.1
1.4
0.7
-
-
Completed .
• * 0.9
0.9
1.1
0.1
0.5
—
Post graduate
. . 0.2
0.2
0.4
*
—
-
Not ascertainable * - - -
(a) Percentage not computed because of small numbers involved.
* Less than .05 percent.
5940
Table I la. Age and. Education of Unattached Transients Registered in 13 Cities,
September, 1934
(Percent distribution)
Education
All Under 16-17 18-19 30-04 25-34 35-44 45 and II. A.
ages
16
, over
TOTAL
Number ....
. 26,898
172
•1171
3345
6909
7457
4138
3705
1
Percent . . .
. 100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(a)
'lone .......
2.0
1.2
1.0
0.6
1.1
1.6
2.9
4.9
Trade school . . .
56.1
73.7
53.5
45.6
46.4
56.6
65.1
72.3
Incompleted . .
29.8
55.1
28.0
23.3
22.4
29.0
35.6
43.6
Completed . . .
26.3
18.6
25.5
22.3
24.0
27.6
29.5
28.7
—
iigh school . . .
38.0
25.1
45.4
53.1
48.7
36.5
26.9
18.7
Incompleted . .
25.1
24.5
41.4
40.5
31.9
22.5
15.9
9.5
—
Completed . . .
12.9
0.6
4.0
12.6
16.8
14.0
11.0
9.2
—
College .....
3.7
—
0.1
0.7
3.8
5.0
4.8
3,5
M.
Incompleted . .
. ' 2.8
-
0.1
0.7
3.3
3.9
3.2
2.0
Completed . . .
0.9
-
-
*
0.5
1.1
1.6
1.5
—
Post graduate . .
0.2
-
*
*
0.3
0.3
0.4
—
N'ot ascertainable
*
—
—
*
*
*
*
0.2
Table lib. Age and Education of Resident Homeless Registered in 13 Cities,
September, 1934
(Percent distribution)
Education
All Under 16-17 18-19 20-24 25-34 35-44 45 and N. A.
ages
16
over
TOTAL
Number ....
4338
3
16
51
260
778
1086
2142
2
Percent ...
100.0
(a)
(a)
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(a)
None ........
6.1
1.5
1.3
4.9
9.1
Trade school . . .
71.1
-
—
62.7
54.7
62.1
70.1
77.5
Incompleted . .
43.2
-
-
31.4
29.3
33.7
40.1
50.6
—
Completed * . .
27.9
-
-
31.3
25.4
28.4
30.0
26.9
Nigh school . • •
20.2
-
-
37.3
43.0
32.8
21.8
11.4
—
Incompleted . .
13.2
-
-
33.4
27.2
22.0
14.1
7.1
-
Completed ...
7.0
-
-
3.9
15.8
10.8
7.7
4.3
college .....
2.3
-
-
0.8
3.6
3.0
1.7
—
Incompleted . .
1.6
-
-
-
0.8
2.9
2.2
1.0
-
Completed ...
0.7
-
-
-
—
0.7
0.8
0.7
-
'ost graduate • .
0.2
-
-
-
-
0.1
0.2
0.2
•m
lot ascertainable
0.1
-
-
-
-
0.1
-
0.1
mm
(a) Percentage not computed because of small numbers involved.
* Less than .05 percent.
CN
lf\
Table Ilia. City of Registration and Education of Unattached Transients, September, 1934
(Percent distribution)
■ - -
Total
Bos¬
Chi¬
Dal¬
Den- Jack- Kansas
Los
Hem- llinne-
New
Phoe¬
Pitts¬
Se¬
Education
ton
cago
las
ver s
on-
City
Ang¬
phis apolis
Or¬
nix
burgh
attle
villo
eles
leans
TOTAL
Number ....
.26,898
889
3090
1013
2982
14/5
3829
3548
3301
1524
2430
932
H35
750
Percent • • •
. 100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
None .......
2.0
2.4
1.7
2.7
1.1
5.2
1.1
1.0
2.5
1.9
7 '
3.14
1.7
2.6
1.3
Grade school ...
. 56.1
61.7
56.6
58.9
51.2
53.8
58.0
47.2
60.7
59.8
55.5
57.8
59.4
53.4
Incomeleted • •
* 29 0 8
34.5
25.3
36.1*.
21.3
35.3
27.7
21.2
38.7
27.4
35.5
30.8
32.9
20.7
Completed • • .
. 26.5
27.2
27.3
22.5
29.9
19.0
30.3
26.0
22.0
32.4
20.0
27.0
2o.p
32.7
High school ...
. 36.0
32.8
36.7
3U.0
44.1
32.0
37.7
47.3
33.3
35-6
36.1
35.6
34.7
42.0
Incompleted .. .
. 25.1
21.9
23.9
22.0
28.1
22.1
26.1
30.4
22.0
25.1
24.5
21.9
25.2
27.3
Completed • • •
3 2 <">
• J-*— V ,
10.9
12.8
11.4
16.0
9.9
11.6
16.9
11.3
12.5
13.6
13.7
9.5
14.7
College • • • • .
y t—f
• Jot
. 2.9
4.5
4.2
3.5
3.9
3.0
4.1
3.4
2.4
4.7
4.9
2.9
3.2
Incompleted , .
2.8
1 'T
-L • /
3.6
3.2
2.5
2.9
2,5
3.2
2,U
2.1
3.7
0* 9
2.1
2.5
Completed ...
. 0.9
1.2
0.9
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.7
0.9
1.0
0.3'
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.7
Post graduate • .
. 0.2
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.1
0.3
0.3
-
0.2
mm
Not ascertainable.
• *
0.1
Or.2
0.1
-
-
*
-
-»
-
-
-
0.2
0.1
* Less than .05 percent
3
CT>
LD
Table Illb. City of Registration and Education of Heads of Transient Family Groups, September, 1935
(percent distribution)
Total
Bos¬
Chi¬
Dal¬
pen- Jack- Kansas
Los
Mem- Minne-
New
Phoe¬
Pitts¬
Se¬
Education
ton
cago
las
ver son-
City
Ang¬
phis apolis Or-
nix
burgh
attle
ville
eles-
leans
TOTAL
Number * .
73
265
196
2ia
202
115
505
263 38
151
65
31
85
Percent •
• •
. 1-0.0
100,0
100.O
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100,0 (a)
100,0
100 » 0
(a)
100.0
None • • • • .
• •
. 3.3
5.1
2.3
1.5
2.9
6.5
0.8
2.7
5*5
5.7
5.7
1.2
Grade school .
• •
. 59.6
35-9
62.5
67.9
55.n
65.5
67.1
5U7
65*9
56.0
60.0
•mm
52.8
Incompleted
• •
• 3i+* •'
5675
u2.7
11976
23.3
5377
33.9
23.5
3"S" "G" -
36.3
29.2
-
21.5
Completed •
• •
. Pi;.9
19. 5
19.6
I8.9
31.1
21.6
33.2
28.3
26.0
17.7
30.8
-
21.5
High school .
• •
. 32.1
25.6
27.6
27.1
37.6
25.7
30.5
5o »o
25.3
32.7
30.8
-
50.0
Incompleted
« •
. 19.1
10.9
lS.8
17.9
21.1
15.6
19.5
21.7
1775
ACfO
1575
-
26.2
Comoleted .
• •
. 13.0
13.7
8.8
9.2
16.5
8.9
11.0
13.5
7.9
9.9
15.5
23.8
College • • •
• •
• 5. 6
5 oh
6 n
3.0
5a
3-5
1.6
5.6
5-5
5.6
3.0
-
5.8
Incompleted
• •
. 3.2"
2.7
3.5
1.5
3.3
2.5
1.6
.—T p
"5.5
5.6
1.5
-
-
Completed .
• •
. 1.5
2.7
3.1
1.5
0.8
1.0
-
1.2
-
-
1.5
-
5-8
Post graduate
• •
• 0.2
-
-
0.5
0.5
-
-
-
0.8
-
1.5
-
-
Not ascertainable
. 0.2
-
1.1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
mm
-
1.2
(a) Percentage not computed because of small numbers involved.
Table IVa. Ciby of Registration and Eduoabion of Unabbached Transients, September, 19 jb
o (Percenb disbribubion)
S Lasb year of All Bos- Chi- Dal- Den- Jack- Kansas Los Mem- Minne- New Phoe- Pitts- Ge-
schooling cibies bon cago las ver son- Ciby Ang- phis apolis Or- nix burgh abble
complebed ville eles leans^
Tob'al
Number •
Percenb.
No schooling
Grade schoo
1 year
2 years
3 years
1+ years
5 years
6 years
7 years
8 years
High school
9 years
10 years
11 years
12 years
College:
13 years
11+ years
15 years
16 years
Posb graduabe,
26,898 889 3090
2.0 2.J+ 1.7
o.U
1.2
2.6
li.2
1+.8
7.1
9.5
26.3
9.5
10.5
5.1
12.9
0.9
1.1+
0.5
0.9
0.2
1.1+
3»h
1+.5
5.5
7.6
11.9
27.2
10.5
8.7
2.7
10.9
0.3
0.7
0.7
1.2
0.5
1.3
2.8
3.2
4.7
6.9
9.9
27.3
8.9
9.8
5.2
12.8
1.0
2.0
0.6
0.9
0.2 0.1 0.3
1013
2982
1475
3829
351)8
3301
1521+
21+30
932
1135
750
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
2.7
1.1
5.2
1.1
1.0
2.5
1.9
3.'+
1.7
2.6
1.3
0.9
0.1
0.9
0.2
0.1
0.5
0.3
0.7
0.2
0.3
-
1.7
0.5
1.8
1.1
0.5
1.7
1.1
2.0
0.9
1.1
0.1
2.6
1.1+
1+.9
2.2
1.3
3.6
2.2
3.3
1.3
l+.U
1.7
h.h
2.7
6.1+
l+.i
2.6
6.6
3.1
U.9
5.8
l+.o
3<3
7.5
3.0
5.8
4.7
2.9
6.7
1+.9
6.1+
U.5
1+.7
2.3
9.6
5.6
8.7
7.3
5.2
9.1
6.0
8.2
6.1+
7.1
4.9
9.7
8.0
11.3
8.1
8.6
10.5
9.8
10.0
11.7
10.8
7.9
22.5
29.9
19.0
30.3
26.0
22.0
32.1+
20.0
27.0
26.5
32.7
9.3
9.3
9.0
9.1+
11.1
9.2
7.8
9.9
9.9
9.2
9.2
8.8
12.0
8.5
11.1
13.1
9.0
10.3
10.1
8.0
10.3
12.7
U.5
6.8
1+.6
5.6
6.2
3.8
5.0
1+.5
1+.0
5.2
5.U
11. h
16.0
9.9
11.6
16.9
11.3
12.5
11.6
13.7
9.5
1I+.7
0.7
0.9
1.0
0.9
1.0
0.7
0.9
1.2
1.0
0.5
1.3
1.9
1.3
1.6
l.l
1.6
1.2
0.9
1.9
1.8
1.0
1.1
0.6
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.5
0.3
0,6
1.1
0.6
o.l
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.7
0.9
1.0
0.3
1.0
1.0
0.8
0.7
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1+
0.1
0.3
0.3
-
0.2
-
Nob ascertainable
0.1 0.2 0.1
0.2
0.1
* Less bhan .05 percenb
Table IYb.
City of Registration and Education of Heads of Transient Family Groups, September, 1931+
/ —V I ^ * 1MA -I -1- 4 iSTA I
Last year of
schooling
completed
All
cities
Los-
ton
Chi¬
cago
Dal¬
las
Den
ver
Jack¬
son¬
ville
Kansas
City
Los
Ang¬
eles
Hem- Minne- New
phis apolis Or¬
leans
Phoe¬
nix
Pitts
burgh
- Se¬
attle
Total
Number ...
. 2122
73
261+
196
21+1
202
118
UoU
265
38
li+1
65
31
81+
Percent • •
.100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
(a)
100.0
100.0
(a)
100.0
No schooling • •
. 3.3
4.1
2.5
1.5
2.9
/ t
O.Ij-
0.8
2.7
1+.5
-
5.7
1+.7
-
1.2
Grade school:
1 year ...
. o,7
-
1.5
2.0
-
1.0
-
-
1.5
-
0.7
-
-
-
2 years' ...
. l.l
2.7
0.8
2.6
0.8
0.5
1.7
1.0
0.8
-
0.7
1.5
-
—
3 years ...
. 3.5
13.7
6.5
1+.6
2.9
3.U
1+.2
0.7
3.0
-
5.0
1.5
-
-
ii years • . •
. 0.1+
1.1+
5.3
8.7
1+.5
7.9
5.1
1+.2
8.3
-
9.9
9.2
—
8.2
5 years • . •
. 6.1
9.6
7.6
10.2
5.1+
6.9
5.1
3.7
9.1
-
1+.3
3.1
-
—
6 years • • .
. 7.1
2.7
9.5
9.7
1+.1
10.8
5.9
5.7
7.5
-
7.8
3.1
-
6.0
7 years • ■ •
. 9.8
16.1+
11.5
11.2
6.2
13.3
11.9
8.1
8.7
-
9.9
10.8
mm
7.2
8 years • • •
. 21+.9
19.1+
19.8
18.9
31.1
21.6
33.2
28.3
26.0
-
17.7
30.8
-
21.1+
High school:
6.6
6.7
6.0
9 years • • .
. 7.2
8.2
7.3
1+.1
7.9
8.5
7.2
-
12.8
9.2
-
10 years • • •
. 7.8
2.7
6.9
9.2
8.7
5.9
5.9
10.6
5.7
-
5.7
1+.7
-
17.8
11 years ...
. i|«l
1+.6
1+.6
5.8
2.0
5.1
1+.U
U.5
-
1+.3
1.5
-
2.1+
12 years ...
. 15.0
13.7
8.8
9.2
16.5
v.9
11.0
18.3
7.9
-
9.9
15.1+
23.8
College:
1.1+
13 years . . .
. 1.3
-
1.5
1.5
1.2
1.0
0.8
2.2
l.l
-
1.5"'
-
-
ill. years ...
. i.h
2.7
0.1+
-
2.1
1.5
0.8
1.5
2.6
-
2.8
-
-
-
15 years ...
. 0.5"
1.5
-
-
-
-
0.7
0.8
-
1.1+
-
-
mm
16 years ...
. i.h
2.7
3.1
1.5
0.8
1.0
-
1.2
mm
—
-
1.5
-
1+.S
Post graduate. .
. 0.2
-
-
0.5
0.1+
-■
-
-
0.8
—
-
1.5
-
mm
Not ascertainable
. 0.2
-
1.1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.2
(a) Percentage not computed becauser of small numbers involved*
SCHOOUNG
OF
TRANSIENT AND
RESIDENT HOMELESS
CHART A
PER CENT
n
20
0 I 234 307 0 0 10 II 12 13 (413 MS 17
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED
UNATTACHED TRANSIENTS
PERCENT
23
20
0 I 2 3436 7 6 9 tO II >2 131413 M3 (7
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED
HEADS OF FAMILY GROUPS
PER CENT
25
0 I 234 3 0 70 9 10 11 L2 Q 14 15 16 17
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED
RESIDENT HOMELESS
SCHOOLING OF UNATTACHED TRANSIENTS BY COLOR OR RACE
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 9 10 11 12 13 14 13 10 17 012 345 0 709 10 II 12 13 14131617
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED GRADES COMPLETED
NATIVE WHITE FOREIGN BORN WHITE
CHART B
0 12 3 4 3 0 7 6 9 10 II 12 13 14 13 10 17 0 I 2 3 4 5 fl 7 8 5 IO II 12 13 14 13 0 17
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE GRADf SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED GRADES COMPLETED
NEGRO MEXICAN
SCHOOLING
CHART C
OF UNATTACHED TRANSIENTS BY
AGE GROUPS
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLL£GE
QftADCS COMPLETED
- AGE UNDER 16 -
PER CENT
30
ToTTTivSV? o'io'i
GRAOC 3000L HIGWSCHOOL COLLEGE
CMJXS COMPLETED
AGE *5 34
I 2 3 4 5 6 7 6>« 1041 I? 1314IS 1617
GRADE SCHOOL HlOt SCHOOL CO> L.KX
GRADES COMPLETED
AGE 35 44
I 2 3 4 5 6 7 81» 10 1112113 14 IS16 T
GRADE SCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE
GRADES COMPLETED
AGE 45 & OVER
3 5556 043 375625