postindustriaalne

Postindustriaalne, or postindustrial, is a concept used to describe a stage in the development of industrialized societies in which services and knowledge-based activities come to dominate economic life rather than traditional manufacturing. The term is often associated with the idea of a postindustrial society, popularized in the work of sociologist Daniel Bell in the 1970s, though its usage has broadened over time. In a postindustriaalne economy, growth is driven by information technology, finance, education, health care, professional services, media, and research and development, while the relative importance of heavy industry declines.

Key indicators include a shrinking share of manufacturing employment and output, rising productivity in service sectors, a larger proportion of educated and specialized workers, and extensive use of information and communication technologies. Globalization and outsourcing frequently accompany these structural changes, with cities and regions repositioning themselves around corporate headquarters, research facilities, and service clusters.

The concept also informs analyses of cultural and social change, such as evolving work patterns, lifelong learning, and the reconfiguration of urban space through redevelopment of industrial areas. Critics point out that deindustrialization is not universal—manufacturing persists in many places—and that the postindustriaalne narrative can overlook environmental concerns, inequality, and the uneven distribution of benefits from technological progress.

In contemporary discussions, postindustriaalne is often invoked in the context of digital society and the shift toward knowledge-based economies, where information flows, creativity, and specialized services become primary drivers of growth.