Employment records document a person’s work life and can include biographical information. These records vary depending on the type of work, the time period, and the location. They may consist of everything from the application documents filled out to obtain a job to pension records.
Employment records are an underused source in genealogical research. However, not seeking these records is a mistake because they can not only provide genealogically relevant information (such as a birthdate, a spouse's name, an address), they also add context to their life story.
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Finding employment records
To search for employment records, we need to know our ancestor’s occupations and places of employment. This might be information you know from personal knowledge, oral history, or family stories. It’s also possible that an artifact or heirloom from their employment history has been passed down in your family.
Some examples of sources that can provide clues to employment are:
- Newspapers. Search by the employer's name in addition to the ancestor's name. Look for articles in regional, occupational, academic, and labor newspapers.
- Children’s birth certificate. Children’s birth certificates often provide a place to include the parent’s occupations.
- Marriage records. Depending on the marriage record, there might be an occupation listed for the bride and groom.
- Death certificate. A person’s death certificate might provide an occupation, previous military service, and if the cause of death was due to their work.
- Court records. If the ancestor sued their employer or was part of a lawsuit against an employer, that would provide a job title and employer name.
- Census records. Information about occupation and employer may exist depending on the country and census. For U.S. research, check the U.S. Census population and non-population schedules such as Agriculture and Manufacturing schedules.
- City directories. City directories can provide occupation and, in some cases, employer name and address.
Aside from knowing what type of work an individual did, or where they were employed, you’ll need to know the approximate place and dates.
Research
The obvious place to find employment records is with the employer itself if they are still in business. However, there are other several other resources available. Learn what you can about the occupation, the industry, and the employer. Conducting internet searches of the job title and the employer can uncover possible records or collections. Employment records for an ancestor may be found in multiple places, including:
- Home sources
- Employer
- Genealogy websites
- Archives
- Digitized book websites
- Digital collections
- Newspapers
- Periodicals
Obstacles to research
Researching employment records can have obstacles. For example, the records may no longer exist; they may have been destroyed or considered private by an employer. Your ancestor may have been self-employed such as farming or the owner of a small business. In such cases, few if any records may exist and it can be helpful to learn more about the occupation and use historical information to write about what your ancestor's experience could have been.
Documenting an ancestor’s employment
Once you know the basics of your ancestor's work life, you'll want to consider what to document. Just finding one record won't provide you with the depth of information that can be gleaned about their work. Documenting an ancestor’s employment can include much more than finding a pension record or an employment file.
As you consider what records exist, this list might help you to search for documents and to consider how to tell that ancestor's story.
- What tools or equipment would they have used in their work?
Tools of a Blacksmith - What types of forms and documents would they have used in the day-to-day course of their work? (punch cards, name badge, records)
- What unique clothing would they have worn to work? What would it have looked like? Would it have a purpose, such as protection?
- Did they need a special license or testing to do that job?
- Was additional or higher education a requirement? (formal or trade education, on-the-job education, continuing education)
- What was their job title? Did they have a rank? Did they have an official title, and what did that title mean in that time period?
- Did they receive any accolades for their job? This may have been during their working life or upon retirement. (Certificate, material item, compensation, recognition in newspaper)
- Did they invent something that received a patent?
US Patent cover - Did their employer or industry publish any magazines, newspapers, or brochures?
- Was your ancestor a member of a union? Did they have a role within the union?
- Where did your ancestor work? Multiple locations? An office building or factory? Outside? Did they travel?
- What did they earn? What would that pay equal today?
- Did they receive a pension?
- What dangers were present in that occupation? (injuries from machinery, lung disease, falls, serious illness, or death)
- Did they die on the job? What was the cause of death? Was there an investigation? Were there any reports? How common was this type of death?
- What fees or monies did they pay to have that occupation? (sharecropping, shopping at the company store, uniforms, tools)
Explore more about employment records
- Iowa State Employees at MyHeritage
- United States, National Register of Scientific and Technical Personnel, 1953-1956 at MyHeritage
- New York City Department of Buildings Job Applications at MyHeritage
- Lovell’s Business & Professional Directory of Quebec, 1890-91 at MyHeritage
- Working on the Railroad: Pullman, Porters, and Maids at Legacy Family Tree Webinars