----------------------------------------+--------------

----+
Workers in trade                      |  Number employed |
----------------------------------------+------------------+

Carpenters                              |     7,105        |
Painters, glaziers, varnishers          |     2,746        |
Plumbers, gas- and steam-fitters        |     2,014        |
Bricklayers                             |     1,800        |
Machine woodworkers                     |     1,198        |
Sheet metal workers or tinsmiths        |     1,069        |
Cabinet-makers                          |       895        |
Inside wiremen and fixture hangers      |       750        |
Plasterers                              |       638        |
Paperhangers                            |       379        |
Structural iron workers                 |       356        |
Roofers and slaters                     |       315        |
Stone-cutters                           |       292        |
Lathers                                 |       275        |
Stone masons and marble setters         |       250        |
Ornamental iron workers                 |       200        |
Cement finishers                        |       200        |
Hoisting engineers                      |       150        |
Elevator constructors                   |       100        |
Parquet floor layers                    |       100        |
Tile-layer                              |       100        |
Asbestos workers                        |        75        |
Wood carvers                            |        63        |
Helpers                                 |       926        |
Apprentices                             |       306        |
----------------------------------------+------------------+

Total                                   |    22,302        |
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APPRENTICESHIP

The general decline of the apprenticeship system which began with the invention of modern labor-saving machinery has affected the building trades least of all.  Here it survives in an active state and is steadily gaining ground.  It is in favor with many employers and with all unions.  The best apprenticeship systems are found in the strongly organized trades.

It is true that in some of the trades apprenticeship is little more than a name, meaning simply that permission has been granted to learn the trade.  The apprentice is left free to pick up what experience he can between the odd jobs that are given him.  What meager instruction he receives comes from a journeyman worker who is none too eager to give up what he considers the secrets of his trade.

The union regulations provide that boys shall not enter the trades as apprentices or helpers below the age of 16.  The limits set by the various trades and the union regulations as to length of apprenticeship are shown in Tables 23 and 24.

TABLE 23.—­UNION REGULATIONS AS TO ENTERING AGE OF APPRENTICES