Licht, Getting Work - Philadelphia, 1840-1950

Abstract

In this monograph Walter Licht, labor historian at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the dynamics of seeking, getting, and losing employment in a major American city over a period of a century. Licht opens with a description of the nature of Philadelphia business and industry-product diversity; a variety of work sites, including factories, small manufacturers, artisan shops, sweatshops, and the putting out system; specialization in operations and products; and a preponderance of noncorporate small-to-medium-sized family-owned firms. He then traces the entrance of workers into the job market and the efficacy of various institutions in getting work-schools, unions, apprentice programs, employment bureaus, and help-wanted ads.