The Year in Review Jobs and Jews

Rising unemployment in the United States is affecting Jews though at a generally lower rate than for the overall population but Jewish college graduates, particularly in the liberal arts, continue to face very bleak job prospects, according to a follow up survey by Jewish vocational agencies.

One of the key findings of the first survey, made under auspices of the Jewish Occupational Council during the 1975 trough in the post-1973 recession, was that new college graduates with no experience were generally unable to find jobs. That survey covered II cities, home of more than 90 percent of American Jews.

The second survey, made last September and October at a time when the economy was again faltering after a brisk recovery, indicated little or no improvement in job prospects for liberal arts college graduates, a field of study historically attracting many Jewish youth. Both surveys were made at the request of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The second survey covered 14 United States cities and one Canadian city, Toronto. In the interim between the two surveys, the JOC was re-named the National Association of Jewish Vocational Services. The new survey was directed by Robert Cherniak, who was named NAJVS executive director last May. Cherniak told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that the survey was made by questionnaires and covered conditions for all of 1976.

In the second study, the job agencies were asked to provide figures on Jewish unemployment, relative to general joblessness in their cities. Ten of the reporting job agencies provided percentage comparisons. Two reported general jobless percentages and described Jewish unemployment at “substantially less” and “much less” than general joblessness in their areas.

SAN FRANCISCO HARDEST HIT

The highest rate of Jewish joblessness in the 15 cities–9.3 percent, compared with 11.3 for the general population– was reported in the San Francisco area, including Marin county and Peninsula cities. The Jewish jobless rate in the San Francisco area is higher than the national overall unemployment rate. San Francisco has an estimated 87,000 Jews.

The lowest rate of Jewish unemployment–3 percent– was reported in Buffalo, where the overall rate is 8 percent, and in St. Paul, where the overall rate was reported as 5.4 percent. Buffalo has about 24,000 Jews and St. Paul about 10,000.

Jewish joblessness in Chicago, home of 235,000 Jews and with an overall jobless rate of 7.9 percent, was given as between 3 and 4 percent. In Toronto, which has some 112,000 Jews, the Jewish jobless rate was estimated at 4 percent, compared with an overall six percent. In Cleveland, where 80,000 Jews live, Jewish joblessness was given as 4.5 percent, compared with 8 percent overall unemployment. For Boston’s 180,000 Jews, the jobless rate was given as 5 percent and the overall rate 8 percent.

SITUATION IN OTHER CITIES

In Los Angeles, which has an estimated 500,000 Jews the Jewish jobless rate was estimated as between 5 and 6 percent, compared with a 9.7 percent overall rate. In New York City. home of some two million Jews, the Jewish jobless rate was estimated at 6 percent, compared to a steep overall rate of 10 percent.

Philadelphia, with 400,000 Jews, has a Jewish jobless rate of 6,2 percent and an overall rate of 8.3 percent. Atlanta, where some 23,000 Jews live, was reported to have an overall jobless rate of 6.7 percent, with Jews affected “proportionately.”

In Cincinnati, which has about 30,000 Jews, the overall unemployment rate was listed as 6.9 percent and the Jewish rate was described as “substantially less”. The Dallas Jewish Vocational Counseling Service reported a general jobless rate in that city of 22,000 Jews but reported there was no estimate available on Jewish joblessness.

General unemployment in Milwaukee was given as 5.8 percent but estimated to be “much lower” for the city’s estimated 23,000 Jews. In Baltimore, the overall rate was given as 8.7 percent by the Associated Placement and Guidance Bureau, which added “There are no statistics available” on the percentage of jobless among Baltimore’s 100,000 Jews. (Tomorrow: Part two)