The bar chart below illustrates the proportion of workers in different profession fields (manufacturing, services, agriculture/fishing, construction and energy/water) in two years: 1841 and 2011.
Overall, it is clear that the percentage of the UK workforce in service industry employed in the service industry was the highest in 2011. Additionally, in 1841 production and maintenance combined represented the largest sectors, while energy/water had the lowest proportion in both years.
In 2011, services accounted for a significant 81%, while in 1841 it had decreased by 48%. Meanwhile, in 1841 maintenance (33%) with manufacturing (36%) together were around 69%, which was the highest figure that year. By contrast, in 2011 the proportion of workers in processing industry dramatically declined to just 9%.
In agriculture/fishing field there was a notable decrease of 21 percentage points, with 22% in 1841 compared to only 1% in 2011. Construction also experienced lower percentages, rising slightly from 5% in the first year to 8% in the second. The energy and water sector experienced the most significant downturn, showing the lowest percentages in both years at 3% in 1841 and 1% in 2011.