there has been not only a
proportionate but an absolute fall-off of employment in the twenty
years following 1861, though the 1891 census again brings up the
absolute numbers of the boot and shoe trade to a little above the
level of 1851.[182]

The branches of manufacture which show a large increase in the
proportion of employment they give in 1891 as compared with 1861 are
machinery and tools, printing and bookbinding, wood furniture and
carriages, fuel, gas, chemicals, and unspecified trades (chiefly
connected with machinery). Machinery and tools alone, among the larger
manufactures, yield a large proportionate increase of employment,
amounting, according to the Census Report, to 27.7 per cent. between
1881 and 1891, though dealers are included in this estimate as well as
makers.

From these facts two conclusions may be drawn regarding the direct
effects of machinery. First, so far as the aggregate of manufactures
is concerned, the net result of the increased use of machinery has not
been to offer an increased demand for labour in these industries
commensurate with the growth of the working population. Second, an
increased proportion of the manufacturing population is employed
either in those branches of the large industries where machinery is
least used, or in the smaller manufactures which are either subsidiary
to the large industries, or are engaged in providing miscellaneous
comforts and luxuries.

Sec. 3. When we turn from manufactures to other employments, we perceive
that while mining and building employ an increasing proportion of the
working classes since 1851, agriculture offers a rapidly diminishing
employment, descending from 20.9 per cent. in 1851 to 11.5 per cent.
in 1881, and 9.9 in 1891.[183]

It is, however, to the transport trades, to the distributing or
"dealing" trades, and to industrial service that we must look for the
notable increase of employment. All of these departments have grown
far faster than the population since 1841.

Transport. Dealing. Industrial
Service.
1841 2.1 5.3 5.4
1851 4.1 6.5 4.5
1861 4.6 7.1 4.0
1871 4.9 7.8 6.0
1881 5.6 7.8 6.7

The statistics of 1891 still further emphasise this movement. The
transport services show an enormous rise upon 1881, yielding a
proportionate employment of 7.4 pe