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The table shows the number of employees and factories producing silk in England and Wales between 1851 and 1901.
Write at least 150 words.
Model Answer:
The table provides data on the workforce in silk production in England and Wales over a 50-year period, starting from 1851. It details the number of male and female workers, as well as the number of silk factories during this time.
Overall, it is evident that the total number of workers in silk production decreased significantly over the period, with a consistently higher number of women employed compared to men. Interestingly, despite the declining workforce, the number of silk factories increased initially but then saw a gradual decline towards the end of the period.
In 1851, the silk industry had its largest workforce, with 130,750 employees, including 76,786 women and around 54,000 men. At the same time, the number of factories was at its lowest, with only 272. By 1861, the number of silk factories had nearly tripled to 761, although the total workforce decreased by more than 20,000 people.
Over the next 40 years, the number of workers continued to decline steadily. By 1901, the number of female workers had dropped to 25,567 and male workers to 13,375, resulting in a total workforce of 38,942. Meanwhile, the number of factories also declined gradually, from 761 in 1861 to 623 by 1901.
(192 words)
