Pay levels in hosiery manufacturing

In August 1981, average earnings in women's hosiery mills were 57% above those in July 1976. This 9.5% annual rate of increase compares favorably to a 50% increase in earnings at an 8.3% annual rate in mills making other hosiery products. Figures prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show hourly earnings of most hosiery mill workers range from $3.35 to $7 per hour. These workers also commonly receive: 1. paid holidays, 2. vacations, 3. health and insurance plans, and 4. retirement pension benefits. Most hosiery manufacturing occurs in the Southeastern states, with 10% of the workers in the Middle Atlantic states. The BLS survey noted that 60% of the production workers were paid on an incentive basis, usually by piece work. The BLS survey covered 313 hosiery mills employing 20,107 production workers in women's hosiery mills and 28,032 production workers in other hosiery mills. Fewer than 5% of the workers were employed in mills with labor-management agreements.