Did women have to fill in for ‘men’s’ jobs?
Over the course of WW1 it is said that around 420 000 men enlisted for war, with nearly half a million men out of the country many jobs needed to be fulfilled. In 1914 the percentage of women in the workforce was 24% by the end of 1918 it rose to 37%. Most women had to take on jobs not only to fulfil positions but to remain financially stable to support their family. Some of the jobs women took on were farming, factory working and truck driving. They also took on roles that were already classified as ‘women’s’ jobs such as printing, shop assistants, teaching and grocery assistants. Even though many women needed jobs some unions were reluctant to let women join the ‘men’s’ work force as they feared it would lower wages.