Occupations of Males in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, April 1891

The above table sets out our analysis of the male population of Beeston in April 1891, by industry/occupation and by age band. A similar table for the female population can be seen by clicking here. Each of these tables have been prepared based on the principles described in connection with the overall population table which can be seen here.

The table can be used to observe and quantify certain characteristics and trends within the population and, in particular, within the working population:

At 1751, the number of males over 15 who were employed was an increase of 38.6% from 1881 and was 107.0% higher than the corresponding figure for 1871. In other words, the adult male working pupulation had more than doubled over the proceeding two decades. The employment rate amongst over 15 males was 93.8%, a decrease from 97.5% in 1881. This decrease is, however, explained by a marked increase in the number of males in the population who were living on their own means (including those who were retired from a specific occupation). In 1881 these had numbered 12 (0.9% of the adult population) but had risen to 74 (4.0%) in 1891. This significant change may indicate an increasing popularity of Beeston as a place for retirement.

The average age of all male workers was 34.4 years - which continued the trend downwards since 1871, despite the near elimination of child labour by the end of these decades. In 1871 it had been 37.8 and 35.8 in 1881. This trend needs further study but, overall, it appears to be an indication of Beeston becoming an increasingly attractive place to work with its new industries looking for a younger workforce.

There were significant movements in various occupational sectors:

Male employment in the textile sector showed a marked increase in numbers employed, coupled with further decline in the average age of its workers - now 32.7, down from 34.1 in 1881). At 578, the number of male textile sector workers was 28.7% higher than in 1881, when it employed 449, and now represented 30.1% of all male employment. There were, as always, differences in the sector's component parts :

The average age of a male lace industry worker was 30.7, continuing the downward trend (from 31.5 in 1881 and 33.4 in 1871). The number of males employed in the industry, at 453, was a marked increase of 62.4% from 1881 when it was 279. The trade now employed 23.6% of the male working population and, in all aspects, now well exceeded the levels achieved up to 1851.
Although the number of males employed was small relative to the lace trade (at 38, just 2.0% of the male workforce), the average age of those males employed in hosiery continued to drop and was now lower at 41.1 years. This compared with 43.7 in 1881 and 48.1 in 1871 and probably refleced the decline of traditional frame knitting and the adoption of more up-to-date machines in a factory environment.
The number of male silk workers continued its marked decline and, at 62, was now only 3.2% of the male workforce. Again, the average age of the male silk workers continued to increase and was now 42.2, compared with 36.5 in 1881. It had been 27.3 in 1871, 21.7 in 1861 and 18.6 in 1851, the upward trend reflecting its inability to use child labour now that legislation and universal education inhibited it.

Non-textile manufacturing and wholesale activities continued to grow and was now a very significant sector with 458 males employed (23.9% of total male employment). This was a 167.8% increase since 1881 when the total males in the sector was 171 (8.9% of the then male workforce). Looking at individual parts of the sector, we find :

The numbers of males employed in cycle making (presumably exclusively at the Humber works), rose from 20 in 1881 to 83 in 1891
The numbers of males employed in other engineering activities, notably foundry working, rose from 50 in 1881 to 159 in 1891
The numbers of males employed in various other manufacturing and wholesale activites rose from 99 in 1881 to 214 in 1891

The number of males employed on the land showed an increase to 135 (from 102 in 1881), due entirely to an increase in horticulture activities, essentially an overflow from neighbouring Chilwell where it was particularly well established.

These significant increases in population and economic activities had inevitably, by 1891, led, in general, to increases in numbers engaged in retail and other service industries. Particular changes were :

The numbers of males employed in retailing of various kinds, rose from 106 in 1881 to 182 in 1891
But, against the trend, the number employed on the railway (an exclusively male preserve), dropped from 141 in 1881 to 105 in 1891

The number of boys under 16 in education was now 678, at 49.3% of all under 16s, essentially the same proportion as in 1881 and 1871. Happily they now had the benefit of a new purpose-built Board School which had opened at Church Street in 1882.

Click to view our analysis of the Female Population by Age and Occupational Groupings
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© David Hallam - 2014