Specialisation

Specialisation is a result of division of labour that results in a worker honing their particular skills to become experts.

Benefits of specialisation of labour

• workers and firms become experts in a particular job
• training institutions have found it easy to set up vocational courses and training programs
• workers acquire specific skills faster
• workers become more proficient and productive in their areas of specialisation
• employers are able to fit workers in particular job categories based on their aptitude and skills
• specialist workers are able to communicate and share ideas pertinent to their work e.g via workshops
• firms and countries are able to focus in areas of production they are experts in resulting in higher quality products being produced
• firms can use specialist machinery and equipment
• saves time in training operatives
• results in faster development of new technology
• saves on use of tools and equipment
• surplus good are produced.

Disadvantages of specialisation of labour

• automation leads to unemployment
• leads to interdependence
• results in immobility of labour
• lack of craftsmanship
• leads to limited choice of goods
• re-training of specialist workers is expensive
• repetitive tasks are boring to workers
• specialist workers tend to overprotect themselves resulting in people not sharing ideas and skills and not wanting to know what others are doing

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