The Occupations of Fathers and of Their Children

Abstract

SINCE very little is known, at least on a measurable basis, about the relationship of the occupations of children to that of their parents, it is important to place on record any evidence on the subject.' The material collected for the New Survey of London Life and Labour contains some relevant information, which is summarised in the tables which follow. It will be remembered that some 30,000 working-class households were selected throughout London and some contiguous Boroughs, so as to make a fair sample of the whole, and that information was obtained, by personal visits, from the great majority of these about the structure and economic position of the family. Among the questions asked, and usually answered, was the occupation of every working member of the family. We are therefore able to classify the occupations of a great number of children in relation to that of their parents. In all the record is adequate for 6,374 sons and 5,9I3 daughters. The results relate, not to all children, but only to those still living with their fathers. In London it is usual for children of working-class families to live with their parents till marriage, except of course in the rather uncommon cases where they go to work outside Greater London or live in hostels. It appears to be less common than in the middle class to go into lodgings or set up a separate household. Hence, except in so far as the age of marriage depends on occupation, the classification is unbiased, though it deals only xwith a restricted group. A more serious limitation comes from the fact that most of the children are not yet adult, though there are many cases