Economic and Marketing Information
FOR INDIANA   FARMERS
Prepared by the Agricultural Staff of Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana
September  30,   1965
Employment Opportunities
for Young People
by J. B. Kohlmeyer, Agricultural Economics
In the year ahead, business activity
and employment opportunities are expected to continue favorable. Even
so, employment opportunities will
not be as favorable in some occupations and in some localities as in
others.
To find a satisfactory job, workers
in some communities may need to
commute considerable distances and
even move to where the jobs are.
Young people about ready to enter
the labor force can improve their
chances of getting a good job by
continuing their education beyond the
high school level.
More New Workers
The number of 18 year olds in Indiana increased from 72 thousand in
1960 to 86 thousand in 1964 and to
93 thousand in 1965. These young
people are ready to enter the labor
force or to continue their education.
The sharp increase in 1964 and
1965 is a result of the baby boom
following the end of World War II.
Another sharp increase is expected
about 1969 or 1970, reaching almost
100 thousand by 1970. (See Table 1.)
While the total Indiana labor force
is expected to increase nearly 25 percent between 1960 and 1970, workers
under 25 years of age will account
for almost 45 percent of this increase.
By 1970, the number of workers in
the labor force under 25 years of age
is expected to be 60 percent greater
than in 1961.
Young workers looking for jobs
will find plenty of competition.
Employment Opportunities
Up and Down
The percentage of the labor force
engaged in the production of products
has steadily declined, while the percentage of the labor force engaged
in the production of services—such
as teachers, salesmen, repairmen,
clerks, typists, etc.—has steadily increased. We were once a nation of
predominately blue collar workers.
Today the white collar workers predominate. This trend is expected to
continue. As technology advances,
fewer workers will be needed in the
actual production of goods.
As our standard of living goes up
more workers will be needed to pro-
Table 1. Young people reaching
age 18 each year in Indiana,
1950-1970
Year
Number
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
53,100
51,200
52,600
54,000
54,800
58,300
58,800
59,500
61,300
65,200
72,400
72,600
71,500
70,100
86,200
92,600
91,500
91,500
91,100
95,600
99,900
Estimates and projections (1961-1970)
based upon data from 1960 Census of
Population.
Source: Indiana Manpower Trends to
1970;   Indiana   Employment   Security   Di
vide the increasing services required
(See Figure 1).
Because of continued mechanization and other technological changes
the farms in Indiana are being combined to form larger units. Most of
the boys reared on farms in Indiana
will not be able to find a unit large
enough to provide an income comparable to other employment opportunities likely to prevail. The number
of jobs in other industries is also
declining.
Very little change is expected in
the number of common labor jobs.
Jobs, in the service, clerical, professional and technical occupations—
including salesmen, mechanics, office
workers, nurses, doctors and lawyers
—are increasing about twice as fast
as is the overall employment picture.
Figure 1. Growth in employment, 1950-
1960. Source: Indiana Manpower Trends
to 1970. Production industries include manufacturing, agriculture, construction and
mining. Service industries include trade,
government services, transportation and
public utilities, finance-insurance-real estate and all other services.