When did Britain industrialise? The sectoral distribution of the labour force and labour productivity in Britain, 1381–1851

Britain's labour force industrialised early. The industrial and service sectors already accounted for 40% of the labour force in 1381, and a substantial further shift of labour out of agriculture occurred between 1522 and 1700. From the early seventeenth century rising agricultural labour produ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Explorations in economic history 2013-01, Vol.50 (1), p.16-27
Main Authors: Broadberry, Stephen, Campbell, Bruce M.S., van Leeuwen, Bas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
17th century
Agricultural employment
Britain
European history
Industrial revolution
Industrialization
Industrialized nations
Labor force
Labour force
Labour productivity
Productivity
Sectoral distribution
Sectoral planning
United Kingdom
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Summary:Britain's labour force industrialised early. The industrial and service sectors already accounted for 40% of the labour force in 1381, and a substantial further shift of labour out of agriculture occurred between 1522 and 1700. From the early seventeenth century rising agricultural labour productivity underpinned steadily increasing employment in industry and services, so that by 1759 agriculture's share of the labour force had shrunk to 37% and industry's grown to 34%. Thereafter, industry's output acceleration during the Industrial Revolution owed more to gains in labour productivity consequent upon mechanisation than the expansion of employment.
ISSN:0014-4983
1090-2457
DOI:10.1016/j.eeh.2012.08.004