This report is one of a series of special studies based on facts obtained in 1930 from retail stores in the first nationwide Census of Distribution. It deals with various phases of employment and wage costs in the retail industry and cover operations for 1929.

The five sections are:

1. The number of retail workers and where they are employed
2. Salaries and wages
3. Seasonal employment and sex data
4. Average sales per employee
5. Wage costs of chains and independents compared, in five kinds of business.

These are followed by seven detailed tables.