Title: Women’s Occupations - The Social Historian
Headings: Women’s Occupations
Women’s Occupations
Guest Post
Women’s Occupations in the Early Twentieth Century
Validity of Conclusions
1900 and 1910 Occupations
Social influences and family relationships
How this information was useful in writing a family history story
Guest Post by Sharon S Atkins

Content: For example, it is likely the development of higher education for women increased the demand for women teachers. The top 10 number of occupations women listed in 1910 employed 79% of the working women (in order): Servants
Semi-skilled operatives (factory workers)
Laundress
Teacher
Dressmaker
Saleswomen in stores
Stenographer / typist
Bookkeeper
Housekeeper
Boarding house keeper
The top 10 number of occupations women listed 1920 employed 77% of the working women (in order): Semi-skilled operatives (factory workers)
Servants
Teachers
Laundress
Stenographers / typist
Saleswomen in stores
Clerks (except stores)
Bookkeeper
Dressmaker
Housekeeper
Occupations showing the greatest decline from 1910 to 1920: Servants
Dressmakers
Laundresses
Milliners
Tailors
Boarding house keepers
Occupations showing the largest increase from 1910 to 1920: Clerks
Stenographers / typists
Telephone operators
Laborers (manufacturing)
Religious / Charity
Telegraph
Librarians
College presidents and professors
Manufacturers
Retail clerks (art stores, book stores, antique and flower shops)
Women likely took more positions in stores, factories and offices as the demand for earlier occupations decreased, such as the number of families hiring servants, or due to: Better pay
Regular or shorter hours
More pleasant surroundings
Better social standing
Women as Stenographers
A small percentage of working women, 12% in 1910 and 13% in 1920, were employed in the category of professions. They were teachers, trained nurses or musicians and/or teachers of music. An even smaller percentage of women were clergymen, literary and scientific, physicians/surgeons, artists and actresses. The 1920 Census lists 572 occupations in total.