Data Underload  / 

Shifts in Job Distribution

By Nathan Yau

In the 1950s, almost half of all employed people were either in farming or manufacturing. As you can imagine, work changed a bit over the years. Here’s how the distribution of jobs across occupation groups shifted.

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

1950

’60

’70

’80

’90

2000

’10

’17

Source: Census Bureau

Notes

The data comes from a combination of the American Community Survey and the Decennial Census. I downloaded the data via IPUMS. They provide unified occupation classifications, which allows for comparison of jobs over time.

Chart Type Used

Stacked Area Chart

Become a member. Support an independent site. Make great charts.

See What You Get

Favorites

Guessing Names Based on What They Start With

I’m terrible at names, but maybe data can help. Put in your sex, the decade when you were born, and start putting in your name. I’ll try to guess before you’re done.

Divorce Rates for Different Groups

We know when people usually get married. We know who never marries. Finally, it’s time to look at the other side: divorce and remarriage.

Who is Older and Younger than You

Here’s a chart to show you how long you have until you start to feel your age.

Data, R, and a 3-D Printer

We almost always look at data through a screen. It’s quick and good for exploration. So is there value in making data physical? I played around with a 3-D printer to find out.