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classification of occupations between 1931 and 1951 render it impossible to make
precise comparisons without lengthy explanation, an attempt has been made in
Table 31 to adapt the 1931 figures to the 1951 classification; the adaptation is
approximate only but the general nature of the changes may be accepted as reliable.
There are proportionately fewer men employed in London in 1951 compared with 1931
in textile and dressmaking trades, transport and communications, commercial trades
(mainly shopkeeping) and in other and unskilled occupations with proportionately
more employed in engineering and allied metal trades, building, the professions,
the defence services and the non-occupied group (excluding unemployed). Most of
the last increase will be due to the greater proportion of retired persons. For women
the changes are not spread over such a variety of occupations, there are proportionately
fewer women employed in the textile and dressmaking trades and in personal
service. To counter-balance these decreases there are more women in the professions
and many more (almost double the 1931 proportion) employed as clerks and typists.
The non-occupied proportion for women, which shows a decline of 2 per cent. from
1931, is a composite figure which will be made up of an increase in the number of
retired persons, probably an increase in the number of students, with a very much
greater decline in the proportion whose sole occupation is that of a housewife, i.e. there
are probably more married women at work in 1951 compared with 1931 than is
indicated by the overall decline of 2 per cent. in this group. The actual details will
not be available until publication of the full census results. The figures for Greater
London show very similar changes which, on the face of it, negatives any suggestion
of a differential migration according to occupation as being the cause of the changes
in London.
There is no possible analogy between London and the national figures in respect
of occupation, since so much of industry and trade has a geographical basis.