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.
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25. Herbalist
Man working in the back shop of Napiers the herbalists in Edinburgh, April 1974. Bunches of dried flowers hang from the ceiling. | TSPL Photo: Ian Brand
26. Nurse of the Year
Nurse of the Year 1976 Sister Height returns to work at the Royal Victoria hospital in Edinburgh, greeted by a piper and some elderly patients in June 1976. | TSPL Photo: George Smith
27. Excavating Roman site
Working on the excavation of the Roman baths at Cramond in August 1976. | TSPL Photo: Dick Ewart