Segmentation and gender wage disparities in the early industrial workforce: Insights from Arkwright's Lumford Mill, 1786–1811

A significant gender wage gap emerged in adulthood at Richard Arkwright's Lumford Mill, with women's wages stagnating while men advanced to higher-paying roles. The study found no evidence of gender wage discrimination among child workers, attributing the disparity primarily to workforce segmentation by gender. Annual increases in weekly wages for children were observed until adulthood, suggesting a strategy to incentivize worker loyalty and stability in rural mills. Researchers linked mill wage books with parish baptism records to estimate ages and construct age–wage profiles, providing unique insights into early industrial workforce dynamics.

Tertzakian, A. (2025). Segmentation and gender wage disparities in the early industrial workforce: Insights from Arkwright’s Lumford Mill, 1786–1811. The Economic History Review, 79(2), 471–495. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ehr.70019