Mercado laboral, escolarización y empleo infantil en una comarca agrícola e industrial (el Vallès Occidental, 1881-1910)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of labour market in schooling and child labour in two municipios of the Vallès Occidental area, Sant Cugat and Sant Pere de Terrassa. The economy in both towns, as in the rest of the area, is based upon a combination of agricultural and industrial activities. Research will focus first on schooling —both enrolment and educational attainment— and subsequently on labour activities themselves, according to age, gender and the nature of work. The results will show that in municipios with a strong agrarian-based economy, suchas Sant Cugat, schooling may be more easily attained. Along the Terrassa and Sabadell outskirts, however, child labour rates stay higher and schooling remains problematic.