TBUCK-FABM LABOR IX NEW JERSEY, 1922 
21 
somewhat regularly but which had required little or no preliminary 
training or apprenticeship corresponding to that usually preceding 
engagement in a trade. As would be expected in a highly indus- 
trialized section of the country, two-thirds of the trades claimed 
were connected with industrial occupations, mercantile trade, and 
transportation. 
The average age at which the farm employees interviewed began 
to earn was 13.6 years for both native and foreign born. Almost 
half started work at from 12 to 15 years of age. Most of those who 
started working so young doubtless worked only during the summer 
vacations of schools, and their ages were higher when they began 
to work steadily. The average age at beginning such summer work 
was 10.7 years in the cases of 138 minors interviewed in this study, 
ranging from 5 years up. 
Table 7. — Trades learned or occupations habitually followed by farm 
employees 
Type of trade 
American born 
Foreign born 
All employees 
Number 
386 
Per cent 
Number 
134 
Per cent 
Number 
520 
Per cent 
None — employees 18 years of age or older 
211 
21 
2 
2 
21 
38 
8 
2 
5 
4 
67.2 
6.7 
.6 
.6 
6.7 
12.1 
2.6 
.6 
1.6 
1.3 
116 
13 
70.3 
7.9 
327 
34 
2 
3 
35 
53 
9 
5 
5 
6 
68.3 
Agriculture .. . ... 
7.1 
Fishing.. ... . 
.4 
Mining, quarrying. . ... .. 
1 
14 
15 
1 
3 
.6 
8.5 
9.1 
.6 
1.8 
.6 
Manufacturing (nonmetals) ... _ 
7.3 
Mechanical industries and construction... 
Transportation.. 
11.1 
1.9 
Mercantile trade. . 
1.0 
Professional service and engineering 
1.0 
Domestic and personal service. 
2 
1.2 
1.3 
Total, employees 18 years of age or 
older only considered 
314 
100.0 
165 
100.0 
479 
100.0 
The various kinds of work G in which he had engaged in his life- 
time was reported by each farm worker interviewed (Table 8; see 
also fig. 7). Practically all had engaged in unskilled farm labor; 
about one in twelve had been in skilled agricultural work; one- 
fourth had done industrial unskilled work and one-eighth had 
done industrial skilled work. One man in five had worked as a 
common laborer. Business of some kind had engaged 1 in 10. 
American born and foreign born seemed to have had very similar 
occupational experiences. The adult foreign born apparently had 
engaged more often in unskilled work. The recent occupational 
experience of the same persons had been much the same as during 
The method of classification of occupations differs somewhat from that used in dis- 
cussing trades learned and is as follows : 
(a) Common labor: Nonagricultural unskilled labor (largely nonindustrial). 
(b) Agriculture, unskilled, such as farm hand, teamster, dairyman. 
(c) Agriculture, skilled: Farm operator (as owner or tenant), farm manager; special- 
izing workers, such as skilled orchardists or nursery workers. 
(d) Industrial work, unskilled: Common labor in industrial plants, garages, lumber 
camps, etc. 
(e) Industrial work, skilled : Trades largely industrial and mechanical. 
(f ) Business, clerical : Employee or clerk in trade or offices. 
(g) Business, administrative : Managerial work, either as owner or managing employee 
in trade or office. 
(h) National service (American or foreign) : Army. Navy, municipal, civil. 
(i) Marine : Sea-faring, deep-sea fishing, oyster ing. 
(j) Domestic and personal service: Housewife, hotel or restaurant workers, barber, 
bootblack. 
(k) Professional service : Professional athlete, nurse, scientific work. 
