1. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Years 1 to 6
Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
The census provides a detailed snapshot in time of the population. This includes our jobs (or occupations).

2. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Which occupations do you know?
In partners or groups, think of three occupations.
Then let’s share these with the class!

3. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here’s a snapshot of the number of occupations from the last four censuses across England and Wales.
What are our observations?
Occupation
Census 2011
Census 2001
Census 1991
Census 1981
Administrative
3,035,000
3,148,893
3,461,580
3,544,470
Managers/ Directors
2,861,000
3,570,069
2,084,110
2,077,450
Sales and customer service
2,241,000
1,812,500
1,527,450
1,234,450
Education
2,628,000
1,001,384
126,557
168,590
Agriculture, forestry, fishing
227,000
227,790
140,380
297,250

4. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here is an occupation which was common in the past.
Lamplighter
What do we think this occupation involved?
Why do we think this is not a common job nowadays?

5. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here is an occupation which was common in the past.
Knocker-up of workpeople
What do we think this occupation involved?
Why do we think this is not a common job nowadays?

6. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here is an occupation which was common in the past.
Blacksmith
What do we think this occupation involved?
Why do we think this is a less common job nowadays?
Why do we think this job has changed since the old days?

7. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here is an occupation which was common in the past.
Child Chimney Sweep
What do we think this occupation involved?
Do we think asking children (only poor children, often orphans) to do this work was very wrong?
How different is this job nowadays? (Nobody climbs chimneys, certainly not children!)

8. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Now let’s look at occupations in 2011.

9. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here is a selection of key occupations from Census 2011.
Education 2,628,000
Construction 2,043,000
Transport and storage ,313,000
Financial and insurance ,145,000
Agriculture, forestry and fishing ,000
Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning ,000
Mining and quarrying ,000

10. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
England and Wales
Here is a full list of the occupations from Census 2011.
Industry
Number
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles Human health and social work activities Education Manufacturing Construction Professional, scientific and technical activities Public administration and defence; compulsory security Accommodation and food service activities Transport and storage Other Administrative and support service activities Financial and insurance activities Information and communication Real estate activities Agriculture, forestry and fishing Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply Mining and quarrying
4,220, ,318, ,628, ,370, ,043, ,746, ,592, ,485, ,313, ,319, ,294, ,145, ,055, , , , , ,000

11. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Today’s task:
Research an occupation. It could be from the past or from the recent census information.
Points to think about:
Highlight your information.
Make notes or create a graphic organiser to record your research.
You could research a second occupation from a different time in history so that you can compare it.

12. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Sharing our research. Let’s discuss:
Points to think about:
What do you think were the worst jobs from the past?
What is your favourite job from the past or the present?
How do we think occupations might change in the future?

13. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Year 6
The census provides a detailed snapshot in time of the population. This includes our jobs (or occupations).

14. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
These are the figures for occupations in Census 2011, including percentages.
England and Wales
Industry
Number
Percentage
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles Human health and social work activities Education Manufacturing Construction Professional, scientific and technical activities Public administration and defence; compulsory security Accommodation and food service activities Transport and storage Administrative and support service activities Financial and insurance activities Information and communication Real estate activities Agriculture, forestry and fishing Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply Mining and quarrying Other
4,220, ,318, ,628, ,370, ,043, ,746, ,592, ,485, ,313, ,294, ,145, ,055, , , , , , ,319,000
16% 12% 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5% 5% 4% 4% 1% 1% 1% 1% 0% 5%

15. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
We can present these figures from Census 2011 in a pie chart:
England and Wales 2011, employment for people aged 16 to 74
Helpful note: To edit this bar graph, click on the chart. Then in the tool bar select ‘Chart Design’ (or the ‘Design’ option within ‘Chart Tools’). Then click on ‘Edit Data’. Alternatively, you can create your graphs on the Census Schools website!

16. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Here’s a snapshot of some occupations from the last four censuses.
What are our observations?
Occupation
Census 2011
Census 2001
Census 1991
Census 1981
Administrative
3,035,000
3,148,893
3,461,580
3,544,470
Managers/ Directors
2,861,000
3,570,069
2,084,110
2,077,450
Sales and customer service
2,241,000
1,812,500
1,527,450
1,234,450
Education
2,628,000
1,001,384
126,557
168,590
Agriculture, forestry, fishing
227,000
227,790
140,380
297,250

17. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
We’re now going to look at occupations going back over a century.
What are our observations?

18. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Knight of the Thimble (also known as Knight of the Sheers)
A tailor or stay-maker. The job of tailor still exists nowadays. It is someone who makes or repairs clothing, especially suits for men. A ‘stay-maker’ made corsets, underclothes which women wore in the olden days.
Knocker-up of workpeople
Before we had alarm clocks (never mind mobile phones), the knocker-up would tap on people’s windows to wake them up in the morning and get them off to work!

19. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Blacksmith
In the olden day of gas lights (instead of modern lampposts), they would light each lamp individually. There are still five lamplighters (and a few gas lamps) left. Our modern lamplighters are also engineers, and they look after the lamps as a little extra part of their job.
(Child) Chimney Sweep
At the time of the first Census 1801, children who were small enough were sent up chimneys to clean them. It was a painful and dangerous job. It was only poor children, often orphans, who were forced into this work.
By Census 1881, it was illegal for children under 14 to sweep chimneys.
Blacksmith
Person who shoes horses. There are still blacksmiths today, but nowadays they do other metal work. There are far fewer blacksmiths now than 100 years ago. Why might that be?

20. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Our task:
Research how occupations have changed over the years.
What do you think are the reasons for these changes?

21. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Following your research, create a report to consider how occupations might change in the future.
Remember to: Use good presentation to structure your text and guide your reader.
For example:
Headings
Bullet points
Underlining

22. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Nursery & Reception
Nursery &Reception
Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
The census provides a detailed snapshot in time of the population. This includes our jobs (or occupations).
What do we think ‘occupation’ means?

23. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
What is a job?
Your teacher has a job!
Who else do we know who has a job?
Now we’re going to find out about jobs from the past!

24. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Lamplighter
What do we think these people did?
Why do we think this is not a job that many people do today?

25. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Blacksmith
What do we think these people did?
Why do we think this is not a job that many people do today?

26. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Child Chimney Sweep
What do we think these people did?
Why do we think this is not a job that many people do today? (And that children never do!)

27. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Appendix: Useful slides
Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Snapshot of occupations from Census 1891
Knight of the Thimble (also known as Knight of the Sheers)
A tailor or stay-maker. The job of tailor still exists nowadays. It is someone who makes or repairs clothing, especially suits for men. A ‘stay-maker’ made corsets, underclothes which women wore in the olden days.
Knocker-up of workpeople
Before we had alarm clocks (never mind mobile phones), the knocker-up would tap on people’s windows to wake them up in the morning and get them off to work!
Cow-banger
In the olden days, ‘cow- banger’ was a colloquial (or slang) word for dairy farmer.

28. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Snapshot of occupations from Census 1891
Blacksmith
In the olden day of gas lights (instead of modern lampposts), they would light each lamp individually. There are still five lamplighters (and a few gas lamps) left. Our modern lamplighters are also engineers, and they look after the lamps as a little extra part of their job.
(Child) Chimney Sweep
At the time of the first Census 1801, children who were small enough were sent up chimneys to clean them. It was a painful and dangerous job. It was only poor children, often orphans, who were forced into this work.
By Census 1881, it was illegal for children under 14 to sweep chimneys.
Blacksmith
Person who shoes horses. There are still blacksmiths today, but nowadays they do other metal work. There are far fewer blacksmiths now than 100 years ago. Why might that be?

29. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Glossary of further occupations from Census 1891
Able Seaman
Knight of the Thimble, also known as Knight of the Sheers.
Bard
Poet or minstrel.
Clod Hopper
This was a colloquial (or slang) name for a person who ploughed the fields.
Loblolly Boy
An errand boy or a surgeon’s assistant on a ship.
Nipper
Lorry boy or young person employed by a carter or wagoner to assist with collection and delivery of goods.
Toe Rag
Worked at the docks as a corn porter.
Watchman
Town official who guarded the streets at night.
Way Maker
Employed to make roads.

30. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Let’s fill in our own findings about these occupations
Able Seaman
Bard
Clod Hopper
Loblolly Boy
Nipper
Toe Rag
Watchman
Way Maker

31. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Children can fill in their own findings about these occupations
Knight of the Thimble, also known as Knight of the Sheers
Knocker-up of workpeople
Cow-banger

32. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Children can fill in their own findings about these occupations
Lamplighter Gas
Blacksmith
Chimney Sweep

33. Let’s Count! Working Life in the Past
Children can fill in their findings about other occupations