149
In describing the age distribution the words "excess" or "deficiency" will be used to denote relative excess or deficiency in the proportion at any age per 1,000 at all ages for any occupation as compared with the same proportion for all occupied males. Thus, this latter proportion for ages 36 to 40 being 112, a pro- portion of 168 in this age group for any occupation will represent a 50 per cent
excess.
Order I.
Fishermen. Fishermen. The average age is high, excess being recorded at each age over 50. There is, however, also excess in the first three age groups 5-16. This is due entirely to the large numbers of young people living afloat who help in the fishing. It would appear, however, that, as these young men grow up, they leave their floating home and seek work elsewhere and this lessens the proportions of those remaining.
Order II. Agricultural Occupations. The above remarks dealing with Fisher- men apply also to those engaged in agricultural occupations. Excess is shown in all ages from 46 onwards, the excess being considerable from 60 upwards. There is also excess in the early years of life though not quite to the same extent as with fishermen. As the young men grow up, they appear to desert a farm life and seek work elsewhere, deficiency being shown in all years from 17-45. But about middle life this tendency exhausts itself, and, partly perhaps as a result of change from other pursuits to farming, but certainly also as a consequence of the lower mortality among these workers, they become progressively more numerous again as life advances, large excess being attained in old age.
Order VII. Metal Workers, on the other hand, are mainly young men. De- ficiency is to be seen in the earliest years up to 13 which is a welcome feature, but from 14 onwards there is excess up to the group 31-35 years. The excess is over 20% in the two age groups 17-20 and 21-25. From 36 onwards there is a deficiency in each age group so that the average age in the occupations of metal workers is low.
Order XIII. Makers of Textile Goods and Articles of Dress are still more below average in age, the excess shown in the two age groups 14-16 and 17-20 being 54% and 60%. From 26 onwards there is a deficiency in each age group.
Order XIV. Makers of Foods, Drinks and Tobacco are for the most part of average age, excess being shown only at ages 21-35.
Order XV. Workers in Wood and Furniture are also mainly young men. There is excess in the groups between 14 and 25 and deficiency thereafter.
Order XVIII. Builders, Bricklayers, Stoneworkers, and Contractors are on the whole older. There is deficiency until we reach the age of 25, and excess extends from age 26-55. Beyond 55 there is a slight deficiency, but, on the whole, the average age is high.
Order XXII. Persons employed in Transport and Communication are generally older than in several other pursuits. There is deficiency up to age 25 and excess. in all age groups beyond up to age 60 after which there is slight deficiency only.
Workers in Commerce and Finance are on the whole of mature age, excesses being limited to ages over 40. This is mainly due to shopkeepers who form so large a part of these workers. The excess in group 51-55 amounts to over 23% and in group 56-60 to 50%.
Persons engaged in Personal Service are in the main youths, there being excess of 92%, 68% and 33% in the three age groups 14-16, 17-20 and 21-25. Beyond 25 there is deficiency in each age group.
Clerks are also mainly young men though the average is fairly maintained throughout life. The numbers are in excess at all ages between 26 and 45, and beyond the age of 45 there is only sligh divergence from average.