Private Employment by Industry: 1950, 1980 and 1990 Compared

Employed Residents by Sector¹	1950²	% 1950 Total	1980	% 1980 Total	1990	% 1990 Total
Agriculture/Mining	177	0.4%	202	0.4%	196	0.4%
Construction	2,129	4.5%	1,166	2.3%	1,374	2.5%
Manufacturing	13,678	28.9%	6,620	13.3%	5,240	9.7%
Transportation, Communications and Utilities	3,660	7.7%	2,178	4.4%	2,114	3.9%
Wholesale and Retail Trade	8,894	18.8%	6,013	12.1%	6,089	11.3%
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	2,391	5.0%	2,531	5.1%	3,337	6.2%
Services³	13,538	28.6%	28,435	57.2%	33,376	61.7%
Government	2,887	6.1%	2,537	5.1%	2,371	4.4%
Total Residents Employed	47,354	100.0%	49,682	100.0%	54,097	100.0%

Employed Residents by Occupation¹	1950²	% 1950 Total	1980	% 1980 Total	1990	% 1990 Total
Professional and Technical	7,342	15.6%	17,555	35.3%	21,211	39.2%
Executive and Managerial	3,109	6.6%	5,533	11.1%	8,559	15.8%
Clerical and Administrative	8,947	19.0%	9,034	18.2%	8,418	15.6%
Sales Workers	2,987	6.4%	2,796	5.6%	3,961	7.3%
Service Occupations	6,245	13.3%	6,650	13.4%	6,148	11.4%
Skilled Crafts and Repairs	5,805	12.4%	2,939	5.9%	2,425	4.5%
Operatives and Laborers	12,560	26.7%	5,175	10.4%	3,375	6.2%
Total Residents Employed	46,995	100.0%	49,682	100.0%	54,097	100.0%

EXAMPLES OF SECTORS
Agriculture/Mining	Plant Nurseries, Landscaping, Fishing
Construction	Building and Highway Construction, Construction Trades
Manufacturing	Confectionery Products, Printing, Chemicals, Electronic Equipment, Instruments
Transportation, Communications and Utilities	Trucking, Transit, Post Office, Airlines, Telephone, TV, Electric Utilities
Wholesale and Retail Trade	Warehousing, Retail Stores, Supermarkets, Auto Dealers, Service Stations, Restaurants
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate	Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Brokers, Insurance Agents, Real Estate Brokers
Services³	Education, Business Consulting, Engineering, Health Care, Social Services
Government	Federal, State and Local Government Offices and Agencies

EXAMPLES OF OCCUPATIONS
Professional and Technical:	Architects, Scientists, Health Practitioners, Teachers, Artists, Laboratory Technicians, Dental Hygienists, Pilots, Computer Programmers
Executive and Managerial:	Managers, Auditors, Postmasters
Clerical and Administrative:	Office Supervisors, Secretaries, Clerks, Mail Carriers
Sales Workers:	Salespersons, Cashiers, Auctioneers
Service Occupations:	Nannies, Laundry Workers, Police Officer, Cooks, Janitors, Hairdressers, Child Care
Skilled Crafts and Repairs:	Mechanics, Repair Persons, Construction Trades, Machinists, Tailors, Butchers
Operatives and Laborers:	Machine Operators, Bus Drivers, Heavy Equipment Operators, Laborers, Gardeners

1. Note that workers are classified by both occupation and employer. For example, a police officer (service occupation) can be employed by a City (government industry).
2. The Employment by Sector and Occupation totals for 1950 are not equal due both to persons who did not report an occupation and to a data reporting error.
3. The service sector includes education, health, business, household and professional services.

Sources: U. S. Census, Decennial Census, 1950 - 1990; 1980 STF3A data file; and 1990 STF3A data file.

Chart comparing Cambridge resident employment by occupation during 1950, 1980 and 1990

Chart comparing Cambridge resident employment by sector during 1950, 1980 and 1990

For More Information

For more information about socioeconomic and demographic statistics about Cambridge, please contact Cliff Cook, ccook@cambridgema.gov, Planning Information Manager, at 617/349-4656. The Community Development Department TTY line is 617/349-4621.

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