CYCLICAL FLUCTUATIONS IN MIGRATION 147
TABLE 41.—RELATIVE DECLINE IN DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE IMMIGRATION
OF SELECTED OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS
PERCENTAGE CHANGE FROM THE PRECEDING
OCCUPATION OF IMMIGRANTS YEAR ENDING JUNE 30TH
1904 1908 1911 1922
Unskilled (general and farm laborers) —25.6 | —53.7 | —34.0 ~—77.6
SErVanis........ . So ————. 413.200 26. ¢ iL +10.9 —56.5
Professional... «i .00 vob oo HE +89.5" | —12.1_J| +16.5 —24.9
SKilled. +22.1. —35.0 | + 7.4 —60.9
No occupation. ............ —-==— + 7.5 —20.4 — 5.4 —56.5
In these four depression years, including both mild and severe
employment slumps, the greatest drop in each case is evidenced in
the number of unskilled workers, while the other groups in some
instances even show an increase.
A more complete picture of the relative fluctuations in the several
occupational groups is given in Chart 29, covering the fiscal years
1899 to 1914 and 1920 to 1924.
The effect of the minor depressions of 1901, 1904, 1911, and 1914
are evidenced in most of the occupational groups by a decline, or at
least a slackening of the rate of increase; all series declined sharply
in 1908 and some series continued this decline in 1909 ; all series
rose in the boom of 1913. After the war, a strong upward movement
is evident in all groups through 1919, 1920, and 1921, followed by a
sharp decline in 1922, with a decided recovery in 1923 and 1924,
despite the restrictive influence of the quota law.
While similarities in the movements of the several groups are
more striking than differences, yet on close examination of the
separate curves in Chart 29 exceptions from the general tendencies
do become apparent. The “no occupation” and professional groups
evidence relatively less complete and less prompt reaction to de-
pression conditions than the other groups. For example, in 1908
these groups decline, but not so much as the general decline, and
they continue to decline in 1909. The skilled and servant groups
show somewhat greater responsiveness than the two just mentioned,
but also do not reach bottom until 1909. The farm laborers, general
laborers, and farmers appear to move more nearly in accord with
industrial ups and downs.
