I have a very very vague recollection that "goes out working" was indeed used as a euphemism for "charwoman" by my mother in the 1950s. In those days when wives were largely expected to stay at home looking after house and children like herself, mum was slightly disparaging of those who "worked", even when in the case of my posher schoolmates, the work may have been in a professional position enabling them to employ a charwoman.
My own favourite unusual occupation I came across in a local census, maybe 1871, was a "velocipede assistant". I assume he worked in a bike shop, but I have visions of him helping old ladies up the local hills for a farthing a shove!
