Trends in Overtime Hours and Pay, 1969-74. Special Labor Force Report 179.

Based mainly on Current Population Survey 1969-1974 data, the report examines recent trends of overtime work, the impact of overtime work on earnings, and the current and past composition of the overtime force. In May, 1974 about 16.1 million workers, one out of every five employed persons, reported working more than 40 hours in his/her principal job; 6.7 million of this number received premium pay for their work. Although one-half of overtime persons were white-collar workers, only one-fifth of these workers received overtime pay. Blue-collar workers accounted for two-fifths of the persons on extended workweeks; nearly three-fourths of the workers received premium pay. Male workers were almost three times as likely as women workers to work overtime. White men were more likely to work overtime than blacks; however, black men were more likely to receive premium pay for overtime hours. A greater percentage of union members (one-fifth of all overtime workers) received premium pay than nonunion members. The proportion of employees working overtime with premium pay varied widely among different industries and occupations. Relatively little growth in the number of overtime workers was shown for the six-year period. (EA)