But these old photographs, selected from the Evening News archive, give a flavour of the many different types of work people were doing five decades ago.
From herbalist to taxidermist and from saddler to steeplejack, the pictures highlight occupations which were keeping people busy in the Capital 50 years ago.
Scroll through the pictures and turn back the clock to get a taste of life in Edinburgh in the 1970s.
21. Ambulance control room
Staff of the Scottish Ambulance Service - based at Greenbank in Edinburgh, November 1975 - working in the control room. | TSPL Photo: Albert Jordan
22. Clearing the snow
British Rail staff clearing the lines outside Edinburgh's Waverley station after heavy snow brought chaos to Scotland's railways in December 1976. | TSPL Photo: Albert Jordan
23. Tying pool
The Queen chats to some of the women in the typing pool as she officially opens New St Andrew's House, next to the St James Centre, July 1975. | TSPL
24. Indoor market
Staff in the Spook Erection indoor market at Tollcross, September 1976, after Edinburgh District Council had closed it as a fire risk. | TSPL Photo: Jack Crombie