Question

Describe the postindustrial workforce. Give examples of the types of work that are most common in postindustrial societies. Explain how technology has changed the nature of work in these societies.

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. You may elaborate the answer based on personal views or your classwork if necessary.

(Answer) Prior to industrialisation, manual labour was the major workforce in most nations. As the population increased, the demand increased as well and the need for a labour force to supply to these needs also increased.

However, when the industrial revolution began, mass production with the need for fewer craftsmen and labourers also began. This meant that the labour force decreased and the demand for people to build, operate and maintain the machinery for the industries began. Thus, the need for technicians in the field of production increased.

Industrialisation meant mass-production. With this increase in production, there was a need for prompt distribution, advertisement and sales. Even if demand and supply were at equilibrium, this balance can only be struck if post-production techniques ensured that the consumers got the produced good in an optimal manner.

This is how the marketing and distribution sector began to flourish after the industrial revolution. Therefore, even though the amount of labour job may have drastically decreased because of the machines, the new production styles gave rise to new types of jobs.