From the beginning of the 20th century until the Second World War, nonagricultural employment in the United States rose significantly; however, this rise was not gradual, and employment fluctuated in many years. Overall, employment rose from around 18 million to 43 million workers during this time. Apart from a short dip during the post-WWI Recession of 1920-21, the largest deviation came after the Wall Street Crash in 1929, where nonagricultural employment fell from 37 to 27 million people in just three years. It then rose again after 1933, experienced a brief dip during the Recession of 1937-38, and then rose once more in the build up to the Second World War.
Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Thousands of persons
1943
42,833
1942
41,640
1941
39,365
1940
35,530
1939
33,885
1938
32,287
1937
35,073
1936
33,492
1935
31,254
1934
30,361
1933
27,548
1932
27,405
1931
31,113
1930
34,646
1929
37,125
1928
35,246
1927
34,544
1926
34,442
1925
33,210
1924
31,598
1923
32,055
1922
28,984
1921
26,610
1920
30,260
1919
30,270
1918
30,714
1917
30,714
1916
28,563
1915
26,179
1914
26,003
1913
26,870
1912
26,542
1911
25,455
1910
25,824
1909
24,996
1908
22,741
1907
23,691
1906
23,431
1905
22,123
1904
20,477
1903
20,088
1902
20,141
1901
18,639
1900
17,710
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Data covers the following industries (including firm members and those self-employed: forestry and fishing; industry - extraction of minerals, manufacturing, construction, transportation, public utilities; trade - distribution and finance; service industries -excluding Armed Forces; miscellaneous industries and services
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St. Louis Fed. (August 17, 2012). Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/
St. Louis Fed. "Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s)." Chart. August 17, 2012. Statista. Accessed December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/
St. Louis Fed. (2012). Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/
St. Louis Fed. "Nonagricultural Employment in The United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Aug 2012, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/
St. Louis Fed, Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/ (last visited December 21, 2024)
Nonagricultural employment in the United States from 1900 to 1943 (in 1,000s) [Graph], St. Louis Fed, August 17, 2012. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1241616/non-agricultural-employment-united-states-historical/