Patterns of employment in U.S. industry today were studied in order to explore factors behind the low income and lagging occupational status of black women workers. The data collected for this group were contrasted with similar data for white women workers. The study found (1) substantial underrepresention in hiring black women at all income levels in U.S. industry and a strong possibility of racial discrimination; (2) discrimination and occupational clustering within industry; (3) lower wage earnings by black women than by all other groups, when industry and occupation were held constant; (4) high rates of involuntary part-time employment among low income black women; (5) an extremely low percentage of black women workers covered by employer-sponsored pension and health plans; and (6) a greater proportion of poor black women's wages going to total family support, as compared to the proportion contributed by white women to their total family income. (GC)