The division of labour is an economic concept where the production process is broken down into different stages, with each worker or group of workers assigned to specific tasks. This specialization allows workers to focus on certain parts of the production, increasing overall efficiency, productivity, and output.
The concept was popularized by Adam Smith in 1776 using the example of a pin factory, where dividing making a pin into separate tasks greatly improved production speed and efficiency. Benefits of division of labour include less training required per worker, faster task completion, reduced wasted motion, and better alignment of tasks with workers' skills. However, it can also lead to worker boredom and monotony.
The division of labour can refer to task specialization, geographic specialization between nations, and gender-based task allocation, and it is a foundational principle that has supported industrialization, mass production, and economic growth.
In summary, the division of labour is the organized separation of work into specific tasks performed by different people, aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity in various economic and social contexts.