Occupations-1950-Italy

Here is a snapshot from a low carbon footprint society. Not so long ago.

Scott 549-565

50c    Blacksmith
1 lira    Auto mechanic
2    Mason (not shown)
5    Potter
6    Lace-making
10    Weaving
12    Sailor steering boat (not shown)
15    Shipbuilding
20    Fisherman
25    Sorting oranges

30    Woman carrying grapes
35    Olive picking (not shown)
40    Wine cart
50    Shepherd and flock
55    Plowing (not shown)
60    Grain cart
65    Girl worker in hemp field (not shown)
100    Husking corn (not shown)
200    Woodcutter (not shown)

Not efficient you may say. Not as productive per man-hour as fossil-fuel burning, is what you really mean.

In my own childhood in the 1950s, the Balboa peninsula was mostly vacant lots. We walked two blocks to the school bus stop. The milkman would give us kids pieces of ice to suck on. He carried the milk bottles up the back stairs to the kitchen door and wore a neat uniform. One breadwinner could support a family and a house. There were two mail deliveries a day.

Need some money? Maybe go work sorting oranges for a month or two. Might be fun. Might meet some girls.

Monetary profit and efficiency are only thinly related.