provision of training opportunities and in their use by women and girls seeking employment.

The seventh biennial edition of the "Handbook on Women Workers" was prepared during the past fiscal year, for release in the fall of 1960. The basic statistical and economic data on women workers was brought up to date, as was the legislative information. This reference book of the Bureau is in constant demand from many writers, researchers, and organizations concerned with women's economic and social progress.

Because married women comprise an important segment of the labor force, and because of requests from women workers and organizations in this country and from women leaders of other countries, the Bureau undertook a review of maternity benefit provisions currently applicable to employed women. The resulting bulletin, "Maternity Benefit Provisions for Employed Women," was released in June 1960. In presenting the major types of benefits, the report clearly shows the primarily voluntary approach adopted in this country as contrasted with the primarily legislative approach used elsewhere.

Under way at the end of fiscal 1960 was a study of life insurance underwriting as a career for women, in cooperation with the Committee of Women Underwriters of the National Association of Life Underwriters. Although women constitute about one-third of the half million persons employed in the life insurance industry, they represent but a small proportion of full-time life insurance underwriters. Those women who are so employed, however, have been successful in the industry, and this field is open to mature as well as younger women. The full report of the study will be issued as one of the Bureau's "Careers for Women" series of bulletins.

Womanpower Potentials

Employment of Women

Comparing fiscal years 1959 and 1960, the average number of women in the labor force increased by more than half a million, or 2.3 percent-from 22,612,000 in 1959, to 23,122,000 in 1960. Within the labor force, the average number of women who were employed rose 3 percent over the year, while the average number of women who were unemployed and looking for a job decreased by 8 percent. Consequently, the unemployment rate for women in the labor force declined from 6.3 percent to 5.7 percent between the fiscal years 1959 and 1960.

Although married women living with their husbands still had a lower rate of participation in the labor force than other marital groups, they made up more than half the total of the woman labor force. Specifically, only 31 percent of all married women work. However, because the vast majority of women in our population who are old enough to work are married, the married group made up 55 percent of the total number of women workers. More than half of the married women workers living with their husbands were in age groups 35 to 44 years and 45 to 54 years.

Women as a Source of Emergency Labor

During fiscal year 1960, the Director of the Women's Bureau in her capacity as Assistant to the Secretary of Labor continued to provide advice and suggestions on the womanpower aspects of the civil defense and mobilization program. Results of the Operation Alert test exercise held in 1959 confirmed the premise that women not currently in the labor force-many of whom have had valuable work experience can provide the largest reservoir of readily available workers for a rapid expansion of the labor force in an emergency. During the test alert exercise, the recruitment of women not previously in the work force was the major means used for expanding the labor force under postattack conditions.

To shed further light on the availability, skills, and work experience of these women, the Women's Bureau undertook a pilot questionnaire survey in cooperation with the Santa Rosa-Sonoma County Project in California, which is sponsored by the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization. The questionnaire was distributed toward the end of the fiscal year to women in the area who are not presently in the labor force. Survey results will be used to provide information on the characteristics of the womanpower reserve in a specific local area, and for the development of plans for the recruitment, training, and utilization of women during an emergency.

State Legislation

Considerable progress was made during the last fiscal year in State legislation affecting women workers. New developments included an increasing trend toward establishment of overtime pay.

The Women's Bureau continued to cooperate in the development and administration of State laws affecting working women through furnishing technical advisory services to State administrators and voluntary organizations, and by furnishing technical and nontechnical supporting materials. The Bureau continued to prepare and publish reports on State laws affecting women's family, property, and political rights, and it cooperated in the study and action programs of many types of organizations in these fields.

Minimum Wage

New York enacted a new minimum wage law with general worker coverage, which sets a statutory minimum of $1 an hour, effective October 1, 1960, and

which provides for wage board action. New Hampshire increased its statutory minimum wage rate for men and women from 85 cents to $1 an hour; and at the same time provided for increased rates for restaurants and hotels under authority of its earlier law covering women and minors.

Of major importance during the 1960 fiscal year was the improvement in minimum wage rates set by wage order. In the 12-month period ending in June, a total of 40 wage orders were revised in 9 jurisdictions (District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Utah, Vermont, and Wisconsin). The Women's Bureau furnished technical assistance to a number of States on the convening of wage boards and issuance of wage orders. Services included compilations of wage order provisions for use by wage boards, information on the cost-of-living budgets, and assistance in the development of regulations governing conduct of wage boards and public hearings.

Revised editions of two minimum wage publications were issued during the fiscal year-"State Minimum Wage Laws" (Leaflet 4), and “Minimum Wage and the Woman Worker" (Pamphlet 8). The sales supply of the latter was exhausted shortly after publication, which illustrates the wide use of these materials by all interested groups. In addition, Bulletin 267-"State Minimum Wage Laws and Orders"-the Bureau's basic publication in the minimum wage field, was brought up to date through issuance of slip-sheet insertions containing digests of new actions.

Equal Pay

Pennsylvania enacted new equal pay legislation-greatly strengthening the provisions of its former law. On request from women's and other voluntary organizations, unions, members of Congress, and other groups interested in furthering the equal pay principle through legislation, collective bargaining, and education, the Women's Bureau furnished technical services and various materials. These included information on the practical application of State equal pay laws, preparation of draft wording for a proposed law, and assistance in planning a survey of equal pay practices. In addition, the Bureau prepared and published revised editions of its equal pay materials, including the "Equal Pay Primer" and the "Digest of State Equal Pay Laws."

Legal Status of Women

Because of women's increasing participation in the economic and social life of the Nation, women's family and property rights have been the subject of much legislation in recent years. The Bureau has been requested to furnish technical information in this field to many interested groups—including national organizations with branches throughout the 50 States.

To provide factual material, the Bureau has completed the project of revising its separate State reports on the legal status of women (reports were completed for 25 States during fiscal 1960), and has begun revision of the U.S. summary on this subject. Both the summary and the separate reports for individual States

are used widely by national and international groups interested in the removal of remaining legal discriminations against women.

An article on the legal status of women was prepared for publication in the Monthly Bulletin of the American Association of University Women, and the association reprinted the article for use by Status of Women Committees in various local branches throughout the United States. At the request of the Council of State Governments, the Bureau prepared an article on women's legal status—including a tabular chart of the provisions of the marriage and divorce laws in all States.

Other State Legislation

During the 1960 fiscal year, the maximum hour law in Virginia was amended twice: (1) to permit women to work longer than the maximum hours-3 days after specified holidays-in establishments developing photographic film; and (2) to permit a 7-day workweek for women employed in manufacturing estab lishments operating on a multiple-shift basis. In Massachusetts and New York, the laws affecting women workers were amended to permit relaxation of statutory provisions in time of emergency. By the end of the fiscal year, the Bureau had almost completed a major revision of its bulletin "State Hour Laws for Women," which covers State laws governing women's maximum daily and weekly hours of employment, nightwork, day of rest, and meal periods.

The Bureau had inquiries from both employers and unions for recommendations as to standards on weight lifting by women for incorporation in collective bargaining agreements. Technical assistance was furnished to State labor departments on the revision of laws and regulations in this field.

An article on 1958-60 progress in State labor legislation was prepared at the request of the Council of State Governments for publication in the 1960-61 edition of the "Book of the States," and the Bureau cooperated in various Department programs by furnishing digests and summaries of labor laws affecting

women.

1960 Girls' State Sessions

The Women's Bureau continued to cooperate with national patriotic and civic organizations on their nationwide programs of Girls' State and Girls' Nationwhich are directed toward providing sound basic citizenship training for girls of high school age. Begun in 1956, this program provides basic study materials on women's labor laws, laws governing women's family and property rights, and laws governing political rights such as voting and holding public office.

For the fifth successive year, the Bureau furnished pertinent materials for the use of girls completing their junior year of high school who were selected to participate in this program. The publications and reports furnished by the Bureau are designed to give these girls a working knowledge of the laws which will affect them in adult life. For the 1960 sessions of the Girls' State and Girls' Nation programs, family and property law summaries and labor law summaries were prepared for a number of individual States for use in Girls' State programs.

International Program

Technical services to groups and agencies interested in advancing the economic, legal, and cultural status of women at the international level constitute an important part of the Bureau's work. The Bureau regularly cooperates with national women's organizations on their international programs designed to create better understanding and good will, and publishes reports of the sessions of international agencies for distribution to national organizations. It assists international agencies directly by preparing technical reports and furnishing advisory services. Chief among these agencies are the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the Inter-American Commission of Women, and the ILO Panel of Consultants on Problems of Women Workers.

U.N. Status of Women Commission

As has been customary for a number of years, a Bureau staff member served as legal adviser to the U.S. delegation at the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which met for 3 weeks in March and April 1960 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This Commission, one of the member bodies of ECOSOC, is composed of representatives of 18 nations selected on a geographical basis to be representative of the various hemispheres, the term of each member nation rotating at a 3-year interval.

At the recent 14th session the U.S. delegation took leadership in initiating a resolution, adopted unanimously, inviting a country of Africa to seek membership on the Commission. A second resolution sponsored by the U.S. delegation was adopted, calling on the United Nations to furnish technical advisory assistance, on the request of governments, to conferences to train women in community leadership at the State and local level. Of major importance at this year's session was the consideration of a draft convention and draft recommendation to establish minimum international standards on age of marriage, free consent of both parties, and registration of marriages. Other items on this year's agenda were out-of-school education for women, equal pay, and political rights of women. During the year, the Bureau prepared the official U.S. Government replies to questionnaire studies initiated by the U.N. Secretary General and the International Labor Organization on U.S. law and practice affecting women's employment and status. In reply to a U.N. questionnaire covering laws relating to age of marriage, free consent to marriage, and registration of marriages, the Bureau completed an analytical study of laws in all 50 States. The U.N. study, to be used in the formulation of international standards to outlaw the practice of "bride price” and child marriage, brought together replies from 56 countries and 29 nongovernmental organizations.

The Women's Bureau prepared the U.S. reply to a second U.N. questionnaire study, entitled “Women in Public Services and Functions." This reply was incorporated in a U.N. report showing the extent to which women hold administrative appointive office in the various countries.