Unemployment & Service Jobs

• Unemployment was 6.5%

  December 1974
• Unemployment was 8.9%


  May 1975
• Unemployment rose throughout the decade
• Causes of increased unemployment


  • Countries producing manufactured goods at lower prices and often superior quality
  • Increasing mechanisation of the American industry- men were replacing machines
• These factors combined decreased employment opportunities in occupations such as car manufacturing in Detroit and steel production in Pennsylvania
• Service jobs

  Constituted 60% of employment opportunities in 1970 but 70% by 1980
• Many service jobs were low paid
• Federal minimum wage was $2.10 an hour


  1975
• Federal minimum wage was $3.35 per hour


  1981
• The federal minimum wage failed to keep pace with rising prices
• 38% of women worked


  1960
• 43% of women worked


  1970
• 52% of women worked


  1980
• Many mothers had to work in order to maintain the usual family income