In 1933, the majority of households had one income/earner, and about one out of every four workers was unemployed. Unemployment typically lasted for longer than one year, and those who were fortunate to have jobs experienced cutbacks in hours or wages earned. Agricultural and manufacturing workers were hit the hardest, as were older workers and black men.1
Labor unions had been on the rise since the late 19th Century and were responsible for worker protection such as creating standard workdays, fair wages, safe environments, and just systems. Unions lost steam during the 1920s when legislation turned in favor of businesses in order to stoke the post-war economy, but they grew again as unskilled labor started to organize.
1930’s Milestones:
- 1932 – Norris-LaGuardia Act.2
- 1933 – National Industrial Recovery Act.3
- 1933 – United States Employment Service reinstated.4
- 1937 – National Apprenticeship Act passed. (Fitzgerald Act)5
- 1938 – Fair Labor Standards Act passed. (FLSA)6
- 1938 – Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) is published for the first time7
References