Figure AC
Agriculture employment as a share of total employment and food expenditure as a share of total personal consumption expenditures, 1800–2017
| Food and nonalcoholic beverages purchased for off-premises consumption as a share of total personal consumption expenditures (Cummings) | Food and nonalcoholic beverages purchased for off-premises consumption as a share of total personal consumption expenditures (NIPA) | Agricultural employment as a share of total employment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 73.7% | ||
| 1810 | 80.9% | ||
| 1820 | 78.8% | ||
| 1830 | 86.8% | 68.8% | |
| 1840 | 63.1% | ||
| 1850 | 54.8% | ||
| 1860 | 76.1% | 52.9% | |
| 1870 | 52.5% | ||
| 1880 | 51.3% | ||
| 1890 | 42.7% | ||
| 1900 | 40.2% | ||
| 1901 | 46.3% | ||
| 1910 | 31.4% | ||
| 1920 | 25.9% | ||
| 1929 | 19.1% | ||
| 1930 | 15.4% | 19.3% | 21.6% |
| 1931 | 17.8% | ||
| 1932 | 16.8% | ||
| 1933 | 18.4% | ||
| 1934 | 18.0% | ||
| 1935 | 18.2% | ||
| 1936 | 18.5% | ||
| 1937 | 18.2% | ||
| 1938 | 18.2% | ||
| 1939 | 17.4% | ||
| 1940 | 17.2% | 17.0% | |
| 1941 | 17.3% | ||
| 1942 | 18.6% | ||
| 1943 | 18.3% | ||
| 1944 | 17.9% | ||
| 1945 | 17.6% | ||
| 1946 | 18.7% | ||
| 1947 | 19.7% | ||
| 1948 | 19.6% | ||
| 1949 | 18.8% | ||
| 1950 | 18.0% | 12.0% | |
| 1951 | 18.7% | ||
| 1952 | 18.8% | ||
| 1953 | 18.1% | ||
| 1954 | 18.3% | ||
| 1955 | 17.5% | ||
| 1956 | 17.4% | ||
| 1957 | 17.6% | ||
| 1958 | 17.9% | ||
| 1959 | 17.3% | ||
| 1960 | 16.8% | 8.1% | |
| 1961 | 16.7% | ||
| 1962 | 15.9% | ||
| 1963 | 15.3% | ||
| 1964 | 15.1% | ||
| 1965 | 15.0% | ||
| 1966 | 15.1% | ||
| 1967 | 14.6% | ||
| 1968 | 14.3% | ||
| 1969 | 14.1% | ||
| 1970 | 14.2% | 4.4% | |
| 1971 | 13.4% | 4.3% | |
| 1972 | 13.0% | 4.2% | |
| 1973 | 13.1% | 4.1% | |
| 1974 | 13.6% | 4.0% | |
| 1975 | 13.4% | 4.0% | |
| 1976 | 12.9% | 3.8% | |
| 1977 | 12.5% | 3.6% | |
| 1978 | 12.2% | 3.5% | |
| 1979 | 12.2% | 3.4% | |
| 1980 | 12.1% | 3.4% | |
| 1981 | 11.6% | 3.4% | |
| 1982 | 11.4% | 3.4% | |
| 1983 | 10.7% | 3.4% | |
| 1984 | 10.3% | 3.2% | |
| 1985 | 9.8% | 3.0% | |
| 1986 | 9.6% | 2.9% | |
| 1987 | 9.3% | 2.9% | |
| 1988 | 9.1% | 2.8% | |
| 1989 | 9.1% | 2.7% | |
| 1990 | 9.1% | 2.7% | |
| 1991 | 9.1% | 2.8% | |
| 1992 | 8.6% | 2.7% | |
| 1993 | 8.3% | 2.6% | |
| 1994 | 8.1% | 2.8% | |
| 1995 | 8.0% | 2.8% | |
| 1996 | 7.8% | 2.7% | |
| 1997 | 7.6% | 2.6% | |
| 1998 | 7.3% | 2.6% | |
| 1999 | 7.2% | 2.5% | |
| 2000 | 7.0% | 1.8% | |
| 2001 | 7.0% | 1.7% | |
| 2002 | 6.8% | 1.7% | |
| 2003 | 6.8% | 1.7% | |
| 2004 | 6.7% | 1.6% | |
| 2005 | 6.7% | 1.6% | |
| 2006 | 6.6% | 1.5% | |
| 2007 | 6.7% | 1.4% | |
| 2008 | 6.9% | 1.5% | |
| 2009 | 6.9% | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 6.8% | 1.6% | |
| 2011 | 6.8% | 1.6% | |
| 2012 | 6.8% | 1.5% | |
| 2013 | 6.6% | 1.5% | |
| 2014 | 6.5% | 1.5% | |
| 2015 | 6.4% | 1.6% | |
| 2016 | 6.2% | 1.6% | |
| 2017 | 1.6% |

Note: Food expenditure includes food and nonalcoholic beverages purchased for off-premises consumption
Source: EPI analysis of Census, Current Population Survey, and Bureau of Economic Analysis data, Cummings 1940, and Lebergott 1966
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