Social and Professional Structure of the Jewish Population in the Białystok Region According to Censuses of 1921 and 1931

500 lat osadnictwa żydowskiego na Podlasiu. Materiały z konferencji międzynarodowej, Białystok, 14 - 17 września 1987 r.500 Years of the Jewish Settlement in Podlasie. Popers From the International Conference, Białystok, September 14 - 17, 1987.In 1921 Jewish population amounted to 14,8% of the total population while the percentage of Jews professionally active was 9,1%. In 1931 these data were, respectively, 12,1% and 8,6%. These relations were influenced by small employment of Jews in agriculture. Only in such fields as gardening and bee-keeping (30,4%) or fishing (18,5%) the percentage of Jewish population was high. These data contradict the stereotype concerning professional structure of Jews in the Białystok region. This structure was characterized by high employment in industry, particularly precise 90,8%, 87,6%), in printing (72,8 %, 73,1%), in food industry and trade (79,4%, 70,4%). Relatively low employment occurred in communication and transport, and very low - in administration and jurisdiction. In the 10-year period between the censuses a restructuring took place in the group of Jews involved with trade: a decrease in running agencies, trade of goods and cooperative trade, and increase in financial dealing, running hotels, restaurant services etc. Jews were consciously excluded from state transportation, communication, administration and judiciary system. It seems disputable whether Jews dominated in learned professions, although in some fields their participation was significant. Such was 'the case in medical care where - due to difficulties in obtaining hospital jobs - Jewish doctors frequently started private practice. Here their domination was indeed significant (77,9%). Jews made the elite of the industrial upper class, but also they were usually owners of workshops which did not hire workers. It indicates large stratification within the Jewish communities.267-27