The table presents data on the workforce and number of factories engaged in silk production in England and Wales from 1851 to 1901.
Overall, the data illustrates a noteworthy decline in the total number of employees over the observed period, despite fluctuations in factory numbers.
In 1851, the silk industry employed a total of 477,100 individuals, comprising 287,100 male employees and 190,000 female employees, while operating 225 factories. However, by 1861, there was a significant decrease in the workforce, with total employees plummeting to 291,780—reflecting losses of both male (131,780) and female (160,000) workers, despite a slight increase in factories to 227. The decline continued into 1871, when total employment dropped to 140,123, accompanied by a notable surge in factory numbers to 622, demonstrating a shift towards mechanization or production consolidation.
By 1881, total employment further diminished to 126,132, with male and female employees numbered at 76,132 and 50,000, respectively. In 1891, while the workforce witnessed a minor increase to 105,000, factory numbers decreased to 625. This downward trend in employment persisted, culminating in 1901 with the total number of employees decreasing to just 61,000, where male and female employees were significantly reduced to 31,000 and 30,000, respectively, coinciding with a further reduction in factories to 600. This data reveals a stark contrast between the declining workforce and the fluctuating factory landscape throughout the latter half of the 19th century.