Nonagricultural employment in the United States 1900-1943
From the beginning of the 20th century until the Second World War, nonagricultural employment in the United States rose significantly; however, this rise was not gradual, and employment fluctuated in many years. Overall, employment rose from around 18 million to 43 million workers during this time. Apart from a short dip during the post-WWI Recession of 1920-21, the largest deviation came after the Wall Street Crash in 1929, where nonagricultural employment fell from 37 to 27 million people in just three years. It then rose again after 1933, experienced a brief dip during the Recession of 1937-38, and then rose once more in the build up to the Second World War.
