52 



Indiana University Studies 



Work of Young Men 16 to 20 Years Old 



The majority of all males between 16 and 20 years were at 

 work in 1910. The actual number was 101,951 of a possible 

 132,095, or 77.1 per cent. As with the younger age group, the 

 larger group was still employed in agricultural pursuits, the per- 

 centage being 42.5 per cent. 



Manufacturing and mechanical pursuits employed 25.8 per 

 cent ; trade, 7.4 per cent ; and the remainder were distrubted as 

 indicated in the table. For the majority of young men these years 

 are devoted to wage-earning and not school education. 



Work of Men 21 to U Years Old 



Ninety-four per cent of all males in this age group were at 

 work in 1900, the total number being 487,047 of a possible 501.586. 

 The percentage in agricultural pursuits was somewhat smaller 

 than in previous years, it being for this period only 32.5 per cent. 

 The percentage in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits mate- 

 rially increased, being 28.6 per cent. Trade and transportation 

 each employ about 9 per cent of all workers, and the remaining 14 

 per cent were distributed as indicated in the table. This is pri- 

 marily a period of productive activity for all men. Comparing the 

 percentage in agricultural pursuits in the various age groups, it is 

 noted in these years that it is the lowest, while the percentage in 

 manufacturing and mechanical pursuits is in these years the highest. 



Work of Men 45 Years Old and, Over 



The percentage of workers in these years is lower than in the 

 21 to 44 age group, it being about 82.9 per cent or 264,293 workers 

 of a possible 315,528. Nearly half of all of these men 45 years 

 and over were engaged in agricultural pursuits and about one- 

 quarter in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits. Ten per cent 

 were engaged in trade; and 6 per cent in transportation. These 

 three activities engage the time of over 85 per cent of the total 

 number of men; the remaining 15 per cent are distributed as 

 indicated. It is interesting to note that while in the 21 to 44 age 

 group the percentage in agriculture was relatively smaller than 

 in previous age groups, the percentage in the 45 years and over 

 group is relatively much larger and the manufacturing and me- 

 chanical relatively smaller. 



