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Women's labour force participation in nineteenth-century England and Wales: evidence from the 1881 census enumerators’ books

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pThis article uses a new source of data, namely the full sample of the 1881 census enumerators’ books, to study female labour force participation. It examines the interaction between labour demand and supply to gauge their relative importance in determining female labour force participation rates (LFPRs). Three main findings emerge from the current article. First, there is an unmistakable link between labour demand and female LFPRs. High levels of female labour force participation are found in areas where there were industries with ample demand for female labour. Second, supply‐side factors also had clear effects on female LFPRs. However, they can only operate within the limit imposed by the demand‐side conditions. Third, female migration did not fundamentally change the spatial patterns of female LFPRs. Overall, this article argues that the demand side of the female labour market was the most important factor in determining female LFPRs in nineteenth‐century England and Wales.</jats:p>

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Keywords

3801 Applied Economics, 38 Economics, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology, 4303 Historical Studies, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields, 5 Gender Equality

Journal Title

Economic History Review

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0013-0117
1468-0289

Volume Title

73

Publisher

Wiley

Rights

All rights reserved