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Burlington Self-Survey on Human Relations: Final report, 1950

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use workers of this group. This leaves 22 per cent of the firms generally unwilling, and this proportion is almost the same as that indicated by firms who reported that they had or anticipated difficulty in using Negroes--- 20 per cent. This finding suggests a potential of utilization more than twice the present range of Negro employment, insofar as this general expression of willingness is concerned. It is qualified by the limit of one fifth of all firms which apparently have no inclination in this direction, A more realistic appraisal of this potential is afforded by a closer analysis of the response of firms in each of categories of industrial and business enterprise. 

Table 14. Percentages of Firms by Industry Type Now Employing Negro Workers, willing or Not Willing to Employ, and Expressing Difficulties in Using Negro Workers; Burlington, Iowa, 1950. 

Types of Industry, Percentage of Firms
Now Employing, Willing, Not Willing, Expressing Difficulties 

Construction, 33.0
Manufacturing Transportation & Communication, 16.7, 58.3, 16.7, 8.3
Wholesale & Retail Trade, 30.2,44.4, 17.5, 14.3
Business Rep. Services, 22.2, 27.7, 33.3, 16.7
Personal Services, 44.4,38.9, 5.5, 22.2
Government, 28.5, 57.1 

These figures qualify considerably the general expression of 78 per cent willingness to use Negro workers among the firms covered. Actually there were 48 per cent of the firms, above those presently employing Negroes,

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67 use workers of this group. This leaves 22 per cent of the firms generally unwilling, and this proportion is almost the same as that indicated by firms who reported that they had or anticipated difficulty in using Negroes--- 20 per cent. This finding suggests a potential of utilization more than twice the present range of Negro employment, insofar as this general expression of willingness is concerned. It is qualified by the limit of one fifth of all firms which apparently have no inclination in this direction, A more realistic appraisal of this potential is afforded by a closer analysis of the response of firms in each of categories of industrial and business enterprise. Table 14. Percentages of Firms by Industry Type Now Employing Negro Workers, willing or Not Willing to Employ, and Expressing Difficulties in Using Negro Workers; Burlington, Iowa, 1950. Types of Industry, Percentage of Firms Now Employing, Willing, Not Willing, Expressing Difficulties Construction, 33.0 Manufacturing Transportation & Communication, 16.7, 58.3, 16.7, 8.3 Wholesale & Retail Trade, 30.2,44.4, 17.5, 14.3 Business Rep. Services, 22.2, 27.7, 33.3, 16.7 Personal Services, 44.4,38.9, 5.5, 22.2 Government, 28.5, 57.1 These figures qualify considerably the general expression of 78 per cent willingness to use Negro workers among the firms covered. Actually there were 48 per cent of the firms, above those presently employing Negroes,