American women have always worked, but in the early 20th century more women, especially immigrant women who lived in cities, looked for industrial work. Many found employment in the textile and garment industries. Some states enacted legislation setting maximum hours and minimum wage for women. World War I created a shortage of male workers, which opened up many traditionally male occupations to women, even in fields such as chemicals, iron and steel, and automobile manufacturing that were considered inappropriate for women before the war.