Only one-third of the Jews in Soviet Russia are working, while two-thirds are dependent on others, is the estimate presented by the “Emes,” Communist Yiddish daily.
In White Russia the dependents exceed two-thirds; in the Ukraine they number 10% less than two-thirds; in Moscow and Leningrad the dependents number one-half of the Jewish population, because in these cities production is greater and the general unemployment less. Another reason, as given by the “Emes” for the smaller percentage is that in these cities the Jewish birth rate is considerably smaller than in the Ukraine and White Russia.
According to the “Emes” figures, the largest percentage of employed Jews is artisans. Office workers come second and laborers third.
Most of the dependents live on funds received from American relatives.
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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.