The table illustrates the workforce dynamics and factory numbers within the silk production industry in England and Wales over a 50-year span from 1851 to 1901.
It is apparent that the total employee count experienced a marked decline throughout the period, while the distribution of male and female workers shifted sharply. Concurrently, the number of factories displayed a fluctuating trend, peaking before a gradual decrease towards the end of the century.
In 1851, the silk industry boasted a considerable workforce totaling 477,100 employees, comprising 287,100 males and 190,000 females, alongside 225 factories. The subsequent decade revealed a troubling decline in male employment, which dropped to 131,780 by 1861, while female employment experienced a slight increase to 160,000, resulting in an overall reduction of total employees to 291,780. Interestingly, the number of factories rose modestly to 227 during this time, indicating a potential shift towards increased mechanization despite workforce contraction. However, a dramatic transformation occurred by 1871, as male workers dwindled to 80,123, and female workers fell to 60,000, culminating in a combined workforce of merely 140,123. Notably, the number of factories surged to 622, reflecting heightened industrial activity.
As the years progressed, the downward trend in the workforce persisted. By 1881, the workforce further contracted, resulting in 126,132 total employees, with 76,132 males and 50,000 females. Meanwhile, the factories increased to 721, signaling ongoing investments in silk production capabilities. This upward trajectory in factory numbers was not sustained, however, as the 1891 census marked a notable decline in both employee numbers—105,000 total, with 65,000 males and 40,000 females—and a decrease in factories to 625. Finally, by 1901, the workforce diminished to 61,000, consisting of 31,000 males and 30,000 females, paralleled by a reduction in factories to 600. Overall, the data underscores a concerning trend of workforce attrition, notwithstanding initial factory growth.