Average annual hours worked in the UK per person:

• 1913: 2,624
• 1929: 2,286
• 1938: 2,267
• 1950: 1,958
• 1960: 1,913
• 1973: 1,688
• 1990: 1,637
• 1998: 1,489
• 2011: 1,307

Average commute to work (minutes):

• 1910: 13.1
• 1920: 29
• 1930: 13.6
• 1940: 33.5
• 1950: 33.9
• 1960: 33.5
• 1970: 31.5
• 1980: 33.1
• 1990: 34.5
• 2009: 26.8

Proportion of female population who are in employment:

• 1914 (25%); and
• 2013 (70%)

Number of graduates entering the workforce:

• 1913 (9,000); and
• 2012 (408,500)

Chance of being killed at work in an average year:

• 1913 (1 in 3,826); and
• 2013 (1 in 168,323)

Average length of retirement in years:

• 1913: 1.5
• 1980: 13.6
• 2013: 18.1

Top five occupations:

• 1913: domestic service, agriculture, coal mining, construction and cotton manufacturing
• 2013: retail, healthcare, education, IT/support services and professional services

Source: CIPD (Chartered Institute for Personnel & Development) (2013) The People’s Century. People Management. May 2013, pp.28-29.