Day to day practices in the operation of many business firms in the Chicago areas still bar Jews and members of other minority groups from responsible supervisory and white collar jobs, the Bureau on Jewish Employment Problems revealed today on the basis of a employment studies over the past two years.
The report emphasized that while the current business recession slows up hiring, promotion and training opportunities for everybody, it “particularly affects persons who are traditionally victims of discrimination.”
Sample studies during 1956 and 1957 of 30, 000 job openings revealed that 20 percent barred Jews, Catholics and persons of various nationality groups. In all, 27 percent of the companies placing the 30, 000 job requests placed discriminatory religious or nationality bars on them. As many as 1, 500 companies in the Chicago area have been identified with discriminatory job orders.
Since seven of ten firms placing job orders listed no discriminatory requirements, the Bureau decided to test actual practices in this area. Through questioning of experienced job counsellors and through a private employment agency which tried to place members of a minority group in open jobs, it received indications that nearly half of these nominally uncommitted firms actually discriminated in hiring practices.
In the matter of executive placements, one of the most sensitive areas of employment discrimination, the Bureau’s sampling studies uncovered 17 firms which employed Jews in executive posts. However, eight of the companies were owned by Jews.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
