Vision of Britain | 1951 Census: Occupations

1951 Census of England and Wales, Occupation Tables (Laid before Parliament pursuant to Section 4 (1), Census Act, 1920), Table 20 : " Selected Occupations with Status Aggregates for EW, Regions of E, W, Con, AC, CB, MetB, Urban Areas with Population of 50,000 or more".

Show Lancashire AdmC table	Liverpool CB/MB

Occupation	Males [1]	Females [2]
Total Population	369,523	419,136
Pop aged 15 & over	265,687	318,642
I-XXVII Occupied	236,994	126,857
XXVIII Retired & unocc.	28,693	191,785
Employers	3,111	652
Managers	8,454	2,404
Operatives	204,651	117,026
Working on own account	8,182	2,839
Out of Work	12,596	3,936
I. FISHERMEN	20	0
II. AGRICULTURAL, ETC OCCUPATIONS	1,782	119
1. Agricultural and horticultural occupations	1,731	118
Farmers	177	15
Market gardeners, etc. and foremen	109	11
Other gardeners	959	9
Other agricultural workers	486	83
2. Occupations ancillary to agriculture	42	1
Agricultural machine owners, drivers	36	0
3. Foresters and woodmen	9	0
III. MINING & QUARRYING OCCUPATIONS	811	3
1. In coal mines	783	2
Subordinate superintending staff	8	0
Workers below ground: Coal cutting etc machine men	32	0
Workers below ground: Hewers & getters (by hand)	350	0
Workers below ground: Conveying material to the shaft	177	0
Workers below ground: Developing workings in rock	45	0
Workers below ground: Repairing & maintaining roads	61	0
Other workers below ground	69	0
Workers above ground in coal mines	41	2
2. In other mines, quarries, brine pits	28	1
Underground workers in mines	0	0
Getters in open quarries, pits, etc	15	0
IV. WORKERS IN CERAMICS, GLASS, CEMENT, ETC.	609	107
1. Makers of bricks, pottery, etc	36	1
Brick, etc, moulders, etc	10	1
Potters, pottery makers and casters	1	0
Pottery finishers and decorators	2	0
Kiln and oven men, setters and placers	8	0
2. Makers of glass and glass ware	415	91
3. Makers of other mining products (not metal)	158	15
V. COAL GAS, ETC. MAKERS, WORKERS IN CHEMICALS	2,180	288
1. Workers in coal, gas and coke	133	0
2. Workers in chemical and allied trades	2,047	288
VI. WORKERS IN METAL MANUFACTURE, ENGINEERING	33,200	3,801
1. Foremen, overlookers	1,385	111
Fitting, Erecting	340	2
Electrical work	314	48
2. Furnacemen (not annealing or foundry)	84	1
3. Rolling and tube mill workers, wire drawers	75	3
Rollers and their assistants	16	1
4. Foundry workers (excluding pattern makers)	674	33
Iron or steel moulders and core makers	246	3
Non-ferrous moulders and core makers	115	10
Other ferrous foundry workers	244	14
5. Smiths, forgemen	642	6
Blacksmiths	615	0
6. Annealers, hardeners, temperers, picklers	47	5
7. Sheet metal workers, metal spinners, etc.	1,472	52
8. Platers, riveters, shipwrights	2,062	24
Platers	822	0
Platers' labourers	463	0
Riveters, caulkers	115	23
Shipwrights	607	1
9. Metal machinists	2,124	294
Press tool setters	140	3
Turners	604	16
Drillers (hand or machine)	329	216
Machine setters, setter-operators	1,047	59
10. Fitters, machine erectors	11,053	54
Precision fitters, tool makers, etc.	2,499	7
Machine erectors, maintenance engineers	3,782	18
Motor and motor cycle mechanics	1,823	4
Fitters, fitter assemblers	1,071	14
Machine erectors', fitters', etc. mates	1,870	4
11. Metal finishers	383	132
Glazers, polishers, buffers and moppers	170	72
12. Plumbers, pipe fitters, etc.	2,649	2
Plumbers (not chemical plumbers)	1,795	0
Plumbers' labourers	280	0
Gas fitters	142	2
Pipe fitters	422	0
13. Vehicle makers and repairers (n.e.s)	264	0
14. Watch, clock, instrument makers (n.e.s.)	740	167
Scientific instrument makers, repairers	518	132
Watch, etc. makers and repairers	194	19
15. Workers in precious metals, gem setters	29	22
16. Electrical apparatus makers, etc. (n.e.s.)	5,967	601
Radio and radar mechanics	267	8
Others in electrical communications	1,173	80
Electrical Fitters	1,162	19
Electricians (house, ship, factory)	2,651	33
Linemen and cable jointers	327	1
17. Inspectors, viewers, testers	973	671
Electrical work	406	293
18. Other skilled workers	2,577	1,623
Oxy-acetylene or electric welders, etc.	967	87
Constructional engineers, erectors	662	0
Press workers and stampers, drawers	241	1,028
VII. TEXTILE WORKERS	848	1,313
Foremen	59	47
1. Openers, sorters, blenders, carders, etc.	22	49
Carders, combers, drawers, etc.	3	14
2. Spinners, doublers	56	55
Spinners, piecers	39	50
Doublers, twisters, silk throwsters	4	3
3. Winders, warpers, sizers, drawers-in	49	116
Winders, reelers	45	107
Beamers, warpers	0	1
4. Weavers	22	25
Weavers (not carpets)	16	23
5. Knitters	397	496
6. Bleachers, dyers, finishers	91	450
Lookers, examiners, burlers, menders	9	311
Dye house workers	36	10
7. Other skilled workers	211	122
Grinders, jobbers, tacklers, etc.	35	2
VIII. LEATHER WORKERS, FUR DRESSERS	1,117	376
1. Leather tanners and dressers, fur dressers	250	56
2. Boot and Shoe makers	763	113
Makers and repairers (not factory)	617	22
Clickers, pattern cutters	3	7
Closers	2	7
Other boot and shoe makers	130	72
3. Makers of leather or substitute goods	104	207
IX. MAKERS OF TEXTILE GOODS AND ARTICLES OF DRESS	2,137	8,067
1. Garment workers	1,076	5,546
Foremen, overlookers	28	91
Cutters	265	104
Tailors	511	1,032
Dressmakers and light clothing makers	9	867
Machinists	48	2,948
Pressers	191	202
2. Hat and cap makers, milliners (makers)	3	155
3. Upholsterers, etc., bedding makers	800	558
Upholsterers, coach trimmers, etc.	675	258
4. Other makers	258	1,808
X. MAKERS OF FOODS, DRINKS AND TOBACCO	3,443	4,905
1. Makers of foods	2,609	2,302
Foremen, overlookers	290	140
Bakers, dough mixers, etc.	1,160	940
2. Makers of alcoholic drinks	196	229
3. Makers of non-alcoholic drinks	14	20
4. Makers of tabacco, cigars, cigarettes	624	2,354
XI. WORKERS WOOD, CANE AND CORK	7,035	288
Foremen, overlookers	348	6
Cabinet makers	681	5
Carpenters, joiners	3,814	6
Coach and cart builders: body build	381	0
Coopers, hoop makers and benders	297	8
Packing case makers	253	44
Pattern makers (wood or undefined)	112	1
Sawyers, wood cuttting machinists	861	142
XII. MAKERS OF, WORKERS IN, PAPER; PRINTERS	2,588	2,566
1. Makers of paper, paperboard	38	73
2. Workers, in paper and paperboard	335	1,176
Pressers, stampers, cutters	159	101
Paperboard box makers (n.e.s.)	49	532
Machine makers, layers-on	67	408
3. Printers, bookbinders	2,215	1,317
Foremen, overlookers	76	30
Compositors (hand or machine)	573	7
Stereotypers, electrotypers	80	0
Printing reproduction workers	174	17
Printing machine room workers	779	541
Bookbinders	147	554
XIII. MAKERS OF PRODUCTS (N.E.S.)	3,125	2,389
1. Workers in rubber	2,197	1,661
Mixers, spreaders, moulders	518	43
2. Workers in plastics moulding, manipulating	41	15
3. Makers of musical instruments	192	2
Piano tuners	62	0
4. Makers of other products	695	711
Dental mechanics	242	5
XIV. WORKERS IN BUILDING AND CONTRACTING	16,809	39
Foremen, gangers	657	0
Clerks of works	102	0
Builders' labourers	2,544	6
Bricklayers	1,750	4
Bricklayers' labourers	552	1
Plasterers	791	0
Plasterers labourers	257	0
Glaziers	235	1
Slaters and tilers	292	0
Masons, stone cutters	291	0
Masons' labourers	37	0
Platelayers	507	1
Paviors, street masons and asphalters	330	0
Other skilled workers	1,152	1
XV. PAINTERS AND DECORATORS	5,400	236
Foremen, overlookers	165	2
Aerographers, paint sprayers	294	179
French polishers	531	6
XVI. ADMINISTRATORS, DIRECTORS, MANAGERS (N.E.S.)	4,325	471
Civil Service higher officers	24	12
Civil Service executive officers	465	111
Local Authority officers	247	32
Secretaries of companies, etc.	217	74
Heads or managers of office departments	863	89
1. Managers in industrial undertakings	2,509	153
Mining, ceramics, glass, cement, etc.	68	3
Chemical and allied trades	188	9
Engineering and allied trades	746	28
Textiles and leather goods	230	24
Building and contracting	550	13
XVII. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN TRANSPORT, ETC.	50,563	2,079
1. Railway transport workers	5,527	86
Railway officials	240	1
Locomotive engine drivers; motormen	696	0
Locomotive engine firemen	685	0
Locomotive running shed workers	296	10
Guards	359	0
Signalmen	239	0
Shunters, pointsmen, level crossing men	664	2
Porters (including lampmen)	2,019	19
2. Road transport workers	15,817	159
Passenger transport managers	77	1
Haulage contractors and managers	302	16
Inspectors and foremen (not horse)	425	2
Horse drivers, foremen, grooms	1,100	8
Drivers of trams and trolleybuses	589	0
Drivers of buses and coaches	1,450	0
Drivers of other passenger vehicles	770	50
Drivers of goods vehicles	7,466	68
Lorry drivers' mates, van guards, etc.	1,500	4
Bus and tram conductors	1,851	5
Garage proprietors and managers	130	4
3. Water transport workers	23,301	100
Ship-owners, brokers, agents; dock, canal officials	558	2
Wharfingers and stevedores	637	0
Navigating officers and pilots	669	0
Other seagoing workers	8,130	97
Bargemen, boatmen, tugmen	454	1
Dock labourers	11,873	0
4. Air transport workers	82	1
5. Other workers in communications, etc.	5,836	1,733
Postmen, post office sorters	1,532	7
Radio, etc. operators (n.e.s.)	132	117
Telephone operators	355	1,252
Messengers	1,368	102
Lift attendants	306	57
Porters (n.e.s.)	1,749	35
XVIII. COMMERCIAL, FINANCE, ETC. (EXC. CLERICAL)	18,648	15,527
1. Commercial occupations	16,702	15,369
Owners, etc. of wholesale businesses	1,136	89
Brokers, agents, factors (n.e.s.)	261	51
Buyers (not manufacturers')	153	122
Sales managers (manufacturers')	189	5
Advertising agents and managers	95	8
Commercial travellers, canvassers	1,774	197
1.. Owners, etc. of retail businesses	5,699	3,108
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Grocery, provisions	986	241
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Greengrocery	365	310
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Meat	655	54
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Fish, poultry	156	63
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Other food goods	251	296
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Chemists' wares, photographic goods	104	26
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: Confectionary, tobacco, newspapers	603	518
Owners, etc. of retail businesses: General and mixed businesses	409	492
1.. Salesmen, shop assistants:-	4,742	11,270
Salesmen, shop assistants: Grocery, provisions	991	2,131
Salesmen, shop assistants: Greengrocery	203	840
Salesmen, shop assistants: Meat	964	195
Salesmen, shop assistants: Fish, poultry	137	187
Salesmen, shop assistants: Other food goods	122	981
Salesmen, shop assistants: Chemists' wares, photographic goods	111	463
Salesmen, shop assistants: Confectionary, tobacco, newspapers	97	862
Salesmen, shop assistants: In variety chain stores	11	556
Salesmen, shop assistants: In other general and mixed businesses	184	774
Roundsmen, van salesmen	1,364	34
Coal carmen, coal hawkers	311	0
Costermongers and other hawkers	376	85
2. Persons employed in finance and insurance	1,946	158
Bankers, bank managers, inspectors	89	0
Insurance managers, underwriters	300	3
Insurance agents and canvassers	1,136	126
Auctioneers, estate agents, valuers	229	10
XIX. PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL (EXC. CLERICAL)	8,663	8,881
Religious professions	565	385
Clergymen (Church of England)	128	0
Legal professions	188	12
Medical professions	800	163
Physicians, surgeons, etc.	629	150
Dental practitioners	147	8
Veterinary surgeons and practitioners	24	5
Nurses and midwives	370	3,991
Trained nurses, midwives	250	2,027
Assistant nurses	62	329
Student nurses	58	1,374
Nursery nurses	0	261
Medical auxiliary professions	543	369
Pharmacists	185	45
Physiotherapists, masseurs	23	77
Teaching professions	1,613	2,958
Teachers of music	40	93
Engineering, etc. professions	2,196	154
Civil, structural engineers	159	2
Mechanical engineers	209	0
Electrical engineers	170	5
Surveyors	305	5
Architects, town planners	137	5
Industrial designers, draughtsmen	1,122	137
Scientific professions	1,143	366
Chemists, metallugists	324	29
Laboratory assistants, technicians	700	308
Qualified accountants	391	5
Authors, journalists, publicists	113	23
Librarians (not booksellers)	63	146
Social welfare workers	186	251
Painters, sculptors, engravers	172	239
XX. PERSONS EMPLOYED IN DEFENCE SERVICES	7,097	145
1. Armed forces	2,352	68
2. Civilian defence services	4,745	77
Police superintendants, etc.	115	2
Police, other ranks	1,755	33
Fire brigade officers and men	757	3
Watchmen	1,632	18
XXI. PERSONS ENGAGED IN ENTERTAINMENTS AND SPORT	1,190	318
Actors, variety artistes, entertainers	85	87
Musicians	202	34
Cinematograph operators	310	9
Bookmakers	120	88
XXII. PERSONS ENGAGED IN PERSONAL SERVICE	7,906	26,523
Proprietors and managers of restaurants	550	662
Lodging and boarding house keepers	60	231
Proprietors and managers of hotels	70	46
Publicans, beersellers, innkeepers	836	302
Barmen, barmaids	467	1,286
Waiters, waitresses, still room hands	333	1,830
Restaurant counter hands	39	660
Hall and hotel porters; doorkeepers	349	10
Stewards and matrons in institutions	29	246
Hospital or ward orderlies, attendants	564	456
Barbers, hairdressers, manicurists	592	621
Photographers (not printing trades)	212	96
Caretakers, office keepers	662	239
Charwomen, office cleaners	191	7,474
Laundry workers, dry cleaners	378	2,088
Window cleaners	916	6
1. Domestic servants (indoor):-	924	8,982
Cooks	612	1,382
Kitchen hands	247	3,710
Chambermaids, house, etc., maids	1	647
XXIII. CLERKS, TYPISTS, ETC.	16,515	29,998
Clerks (n.e.s.)	12,881	16,675
Shorthand typists, secretaries	115	6,170
Typists	14	2,177
Other office machine operators	53	1,414
Costing and accounting clerks	3,452	3,562
XXIV. WAREHOUSEMEN, STOREKEEPERS, PACKERS, ETC.	8,117	7,181
Warehousemen	1,809	58
Storekeepers	2,249	181
Warehouse and storekeepers' assistants	2,464	488
XXV. STATIONARY ENGINE DRIVERS, STOKERS, ETC.	4,243	24
1. Stationary engine drivers:-	585	1
Underground in mines	7	0
Crane drivers	1,057	5
Drivers of civil engineering plant	226	0
Slingers and riggers	650	0
Boiler firemen and stokers	1,068	5
Oilers and greasers	255	8
XXVI. WORKERS IN UNSKILLED OCCUPATIONS (N.E.S.)	25,819	10,311
Assemblers (n.e.s.)	271	1,491
1. Machine minders:-	1,002	2,422
Engineering and allied trades	758	1,365
Labourers, other unskilled workers	24,546	6,398
XXVII. OTHER AND UNDEFINED WORKERS	2,804	902
1. Workers in distribution of gas, water, etc.	468	1
2. Other workers	2,336	901
XXVIII. RETIRED AND NOT GAINFULLY OCCUPIED	28,693	191,785
Students in educational institutions	4,133	3,624
Retired from gainful occupation	19,078	3,922
No gainful occupation stated	5,194	184,180

Click on the triangles for all about a particular number.

This website does not try to provide an exact replica of the original printed census tables, which often had thousands of rows and far more columns than will fit on our web pages. Instead, we let you drill down from national totals to the most detailed data available. The column headings are those that appeared in the original printed report. The numbers presented here, which are the same ones we use to create statistical maps and graphs, come from the census table and have usually been carefully checked.

The system can only hold statistics for units listed in our administrative gazetteer, so some rows from the original table may be missing. Sometimes big low-level units, like urban parishes, were divided between more than one higher-level units, like Registration sub-Districts. This is why some pages will give a higher figure for a lower-level unit: it covers the whole of the lower-level unit, not just the part within the current higher-level unit.