The table shows the number of employees and factories producing silk in England and Wales between 1851 and 1901.

The table provides information about the workforce in

silk

production, in two countries, England and Wales, over a

period

of 50

years

, starting from 1851.

It is clear that

the total

number

of

silk

workers in the two countries fell over the

period

, and that significantly more women were employed than men in

this

industry.

Also

, the

number

of

silk

manufacturing factories increased over the 50

years

period

, despite some fluctuations. In 1851, the

silk

workforce was at its peak, with 130,750 employees, including 76,786 females and approximately 54,000 males.

In contrast

, the

number

of

silk

plants was at its lowest in 1851, at only 272.

However

, ten

years

later, the

number

of

silk

factories had almost tripled, reaching 761,

while

the total

number

of employees experienced a considerable fall of over 20,000 people. Over the following 40

years

, the total

number

of female and male workers gradually decreased throughout the

period

, to 25,567 and 13,375 respectively, which resulted in a drop in the total

number

of employees, at 38,942 in 1901. Meanwhile, the

number

of

silk

factories experienced a slow down decline over these 40

years

, from 761 in 1861 to 623 in 1901.