In the middle of the XX century of economy of the developed countries underwent significant changes. The scientific and technological revolution, and the investigation – changes in consciousness of society became their reason. Development of high technologies and the need for educated workers provoked the beginning of transition from industrial to post-industrial society.
One of the main characteristics of the post-industrial period is a prevalence of the tertiary sector of economy (service industry) over secondary (the industry and construction) and primary (agriculture). The service industry, in turn, is divided into two sectors. One of them includes trade, finance and management, the second - science, education, culture, health care, rest and social security. For example, in the United States of America in 1956 the quantity of so-called "white collars" - employees, technicians, managers - is insignificant, but surpassed number of workers on productions. In 1995 70% of all working population were already engaged in the service industry.
The latest technologies in production
One more of key features of the post-industrial period is an automation of production. With development and implementation of computer technologies, at factories and the plants the need for a large number of workers began to disappear. The automated equipment allows to create quality products with smaller time expenditure. Besides, with use of modern technologies it is possible to expand considerably the range while machines of an old sample are capable to turn out only standard products.
Importance of education
Updating of the equipment on productions led to the fact that requirements to workers considerably increased. Heads of the companies in post-industrial society prefer to hire more educated and qualified employees: researchers, experimenters, engineers, managers. The need for the shots capable to creation and introduction of innovations, development of new productions increases the importance of the higher education of the population. The science becomes essentially important element in formation of modern model of society. The leading place in post-industrial the world is allocated to information, its creation, processing and distribution and also use of the gained knowledge. For this reason industrial society is called also information.
Post-industrial society - modern society?
According to some theorists, transition to post-industrial society in the modern world did not come yet. One of the reasons supporting such point of view is that capitalists continue to rule the world. According to classical model of post-industrial society D. Bella, the authorities have to be at the helm scientists.