Work, income and stability: The late Victorian and Edwardian London male clerk revisited

The article questions the view that the economic position of male clerical workers in London was deteriorating over the period 1870-1914. It is generally accepted that clerical work for men suffered a downturn due to the impact of the Second Industrial Revolution which transformed office work as a result of the application of technology, the introduction of a female workforce, rational working practices and the rise of large-scale, complex bureaucracies. Examining male clerical workers in London, the article argues that there is evidence to query this portrayal of decline. Salaries appear to have increased, promotional opportunities remained strong and clerical work was a popular choice for many individuals.