postindustrialera

The postindustrialera refers to a socio-economic period in which the growth and organization of the economy move away from heavy manufacturing toward services, information, and knowledge-driven activity. In this framing, the service sector becomes the dominant source of employment and value, while advancements in information and communication technologies enable new forms of production, exchange, and work. The term is closely related to concepts such as the information society and the knowledge economy.

The idea emerged in the mid-20th century and gained prominence through analyses of economic and social change. Daniel Bell’s The Coming of Post-Industrial Society (1973) helped shape the discussion, drawing attention to shifts from material production to professional, technical, and managerial work. Since then, researchers have described a gradual transition in many advanced economies, accelerated by globalization, automation, and the digital revolution. The postindustrialera is not universally defined and is sometimes treated as part of a broader spectrum of contemporary economic development rather than a single, uniform era.

Key features commonly associated with the postindustrialera include a decline in manufacturing employment, a rise in services such as finance, health care, education, and professional services, and a growing emphasis on information-intensive activities like research, software, and media. Knowledge, skills, and innovation become central assets, with ongoing changes in labor markets, education systems, and urban spaces. Societal implications include greater demand for higher education, evolving job structures, and debates about inequality and regional development. Some critics note that manufacturing persists in many places and that transitions are uneven, making the term a useful but contested descriptor of contemporary economies.