Trends in employment and factory numbers in England and Wales 1851-1901

The table illustrates changes in the workforce and the number of factories in England and Wales between 1851 and 1901. Overall, the data reveals a stark contrast between the shrinking labour force and the expansion of industrial facilities.

In 1851, the total workforce stood at 477,100, comprising 287,100 males and 190,000 females. This figure dropped sharply to 291,780 by 1861 and continued to fall steadily throughout the remainder of the century, reaching a low of 61,000 employees by 1901. Notably, the male workforce saw the most dramatic reduction, plummeting from 287,100 to 31,000, while the female workforce decreased from 190,000 to 30,000 over the same period.

Conversely, the number of factories followed an upward trajectory during the first half of the period. Starting at 225 in 1851, the count remained stable until 1861, before surging to 622 in 1871 and peaking at 721 in 1881. Although the number of factories subsequently declined to 625 in 1891 and 600 in 1901, the final figure remained substantially higher than the levels recorded in the mid-19th century. This inverse relationship suggests a shift in industrial structure despite the contraction in total human labour.