It was found that the hotel industry centers in cities according to their size. The cities of New York State were classified according to population into first class cities of over 175,000; second class cities of from 50,000 to 175,000; and third class cities of less than 50,000 population. It proved to be far more difficult to secure employment in second and third class cities than in first class cities. In smaller centers this was in part due to the greater stability of the labor force and in the case of industrial cities to the unemployment situation. In cities of a few controlling industries, which had closed down, the hotel housekeepers invariably answered an inquiry for work with the statement that the works had shut down and so they had long waiting lists for all jobs.
The investigators applied for work in 96 hotels in New York State.
| First class cities | 47 | |
| Buffalo | 12 | |
| New York and Brooklyn | 25 | |
| Rochester | 10 | |
| Second class cities | 28 | |
| Albany | 7 | |
| Binghamton | 3 | |
| Schenectady | 4 | |
| Syracuse | 8 | |
| Utica | 6 | |
| Third class cities | 21 | |
| Elmira | 2 | |
| Hudson | 2 | |
| Ithaca | 2 | |
| Kingston | 2 | |
| Newburgh | 3 | |
| Troy | 4 | |
| Oswego | 2 | |
| Poughkeepsie | 4 | |
| ___ | ||
| Total | 96 |
Work was secured in sixteen hotels, fourteen of which were in first class cities, one in Rochester, two in Buffalo, and eleven in New York and Brooklyn. One job was secured in Syracuse, a second class city, and one in Troy, a city of the third class.
Occupations Covered
It is impossible to give the exact percentage of women to men employed in hotels. A recent survey has been made, however, by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics of hotels and restaurants in 26 cities. This report shows that 40% of the employees in hotels and restaurants are women.[[1]] The percentage for hotels alone would undoubtedly be larger because men are usually employed as waiters in the larger restaurants and in restaurants there is no large group of women chambermaids as in hotels.
[1]. United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wages of Hotel and Restaurant Employees. 1919. (Advance Release 486, Sept. 31, 1921.)
Of the women in hotels, 56% are in the housekeeping department; 23% in the kitchen, dining room and pantry departments; and 20% in miscellaneous departments.[[2]] The miscellaneous departments comprise office employees, laundry workers, elevator, telephone and telegraph operators, seamstresses, wrap checkers and newsstand salesgirls. They have been excluded from this study on the ground that they are not typical of the hotel industry and may be studied under their respective occupations. Since newsstands and checking rooms are usually concessions, the investigators felt they could not be adequately dealt with but should be separately investigated.