The bar chart illustrates the distribution of the Canadian workforce across five industries in 1850 and 2020, highlighting a significant shift in employment trends. Overall, the data reveals a notable rise in the proportion of employees engaged in the service industry, accompanied by a decline in manufacturing.
The most striking feature is that by 2020, 81% of the workforce was involved in providing services, a drastic increase from the 33% recorded in 1850. In contrast, the manufacturing industry experienced a significant decline, dropping from over a third of the workforce in the mid-19th century to just 9% by the early 21st century.
Furthermore, the 170-year period witnessed a marked decline in the agriculture and fishing sectors, with food production employing a tiny 1% of Canadian workers. Similarly, the number of workers in energy and water companies decreased by two-thirds. On the other hand, the construction industry experienced significant growth, increasing from 5% to 8% over the period.
Overall, the job profile of the Canadian workforce underwent a radical transformation between 1850 and 2020, with growth observed in the construction and service industries, while all other areas experienced a decline.