Is it just me, or did there used to be more people singing as they worked?

There seemed to be a thing connecting the British workman and the "pub style" singing, usually in unconnected phrases of a song, perhaps two verses from one and a couple from another, repeated throughout the day.

My theory is that the advent of the cheap radio that workmen bring with them has been killing it.

And whistling!!

Our milkman always used to whistle, and at 5 o' clock in the morning!

The "Just William" books refer to his ear-splitting whistle, with people closing their windows streets away and when I read them as a lad it didn't seem unusual. When did you last hear a young lad whistling a tune?