In December 1917, the "London Gazette" surveyed 444,000 women. 68% of them had changed jobs since the war began in 1914. 16% had moved out of domestic service; 22% were unemployed in 1914 and now had work; 23% had moved form one factory job to another factory - such movement had been very rare for women before 1914.
Nursing was an extremely popular employment opportunity for women. During the war there were two types of nursing; VAD’s (Voluntary Aid Detachment) and FANY’s (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry). VAD's came from a variety of backgrounds - cooks, domestic servants, laundry workers etc. VAD's did not get paid as it was a voluntary appointment. Although those that organised the nursing industry, Sisters and Matrons, did get paid. Because of this non-payment, VAD's usually came from a certain social background where not being paid was not a problem. Their medical training was basic but the fact that they went to the war zone meant that they could comfort badly injured soldiers and give them basic medical treatment even if they were originally not allowed to give injections.
With so many men away fighting, someone had to bring in the harvests and keep the farms going. As an island we had to feed ourselves as German submarines were sinking merchant ships bringing food from America to Britain. Therefore we had to become self-sufficient in food. The Women's Land Army played a vital part in this especially after 1916 when the Battle of the Somme killed and wounded so many young British soldiers - men who would normally work on the land.
Women joined the WLA, although work was extremely hard. Women were up at 4am and went to bed at 7pm. To save fuel for the precious war effort, everything that could be done by hand was done by hand. The use of tractors was very rare. Seeds were planted by hand; harvesting was done by hand etc. Horses were used for ploughing the land - just as in medieval times.
Some of the most important work done by women was in the ammunition factories. With the young men away fighting, this vital work was done by women. It was very dangerous. Working with explosive chemicals meant that one explosion in a factory could trigger off many other ones. The munitions girls worked with sulphur. There was no protection from this dangerous chemical and the women who worked with sulphur found that their exposed skin turned yellow. These women were given the nick-name "canaries" - though it was not a term of abuse, more a nick-name of endearment as people recognised the massive importance of their job. Ironically when the war ended in November 1918, and the soldiers returned from Europe, these ladies were dismissed from their job and replaced by those men who had been serving soldiers.
Considering the education provided for women, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act ended the ban on married women working as doctors, civil servants and solicitors. With this Oxford University allowed women to study degrees for the first time in 1919. After the war women were able to follow better career paths, achieving a better role in society, and better wages. Women were able to stand for election for Parliament, and Lady Astor became the first woman to take her seat in 1919.
Perhaps the most long-lasting change came about for middle-class women. Before the war middle-class women could find jobs such as teachers, nurses, telephonists, typists and as sales assistants in up-market department stores. After the war there were better prospects for careers in the higher professions such as lawyers, accountants and doctors, although this change was not so much of an alteration. In 1911 women made up to 6% of those employed in higher professions. By 1951 they had only increased to 8%.
After World War 1, women were no longer wanted in their war-time jobs. Women were demobilised from the army and nursing units; as the men came back they wanted their jobs in the factories, rural areas, transport and in the offices. Many of these jobs were protected for the men by trade union agreements. For those jobs which weren’t, the government passed a special ‘Act of Parliament’ in August 1919. It was called the Restoration of Pre-War Practices Act.
Women were expected to go back home or return to the traditionally ‘female’ trades and domestic service.