Workers & Wages
Microeconomic Decision Makers
Division of labour (worker specialisation) is breaking down the production process into separate tasks, with each worker concentrating on a particular task rather than making the whole product alone.
Exam tip
Define division of labour in two halves
The specimen mark scheme gives one mark for each half of the definition: production split into separate tasks, and each worker concentrating on one of them. An answer that says only that workers specialise has the second half alone, so it earns one mark. When division of labour comes with mechanised production, keep the two costs apart: output per worker rises, so average cost falls, even though total cost rises with the larger output, while repetitive work tends to lower motivation.
Splitting a job into specialised tasks has clear gains, but also costs.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Workers become skilled and faster at their single task, raising output and productivity | Repeating one task can become boring, lowering motivation and increasing mistakes |
| Less time wasted moving between tasks or tools | If one specialist worker is absent, the whole production line can be held up |
| Easier and cheaper to train a worker for one task than for the whole job | Workers have narrow skills, which can make them occupationally immobile if the job disappears |
| Allows the use of specialised machinery for each task | Standardised output gives less variety and less personal pride in the finished product |