Discuss the changing relative importance of labour in the location of manufacturing industry. [20] In this essay I will explain how the locations of various industries have changed throughout the years

      Weber’s Theory was that they locate next to the raw materials because the raw material loses weight in manufacturing and it is heavy to transport. Until the 1950’s the iron and steal industry satisfied much of Weber’s theory, after that, unforeseen by him 40 years earlier, three elements became increasingly important in the location of new steel works: Government Intervention led to improved technology and reduced transport costs. Since the nationalisation of the industry, the government has made major decisions concerning the location of modern integrated plants and which are to be kept open and which are to be closed. Improved technology has meant less reliance upon raw materials and labour, while reduced transport costs have allowed raw materials to be imported. The introduction of oxygen furnaces the 1950’s meant relatively little energy is now needed while the reduction in the workforce had cut production costs but increased unemployment, this was and economic gain but a social loss.

        Sony started production in Tokyo in 1955 five years later the company established overseas, in an abandoned warehouse in Manhattan. In 1972, Sony was the first Japanese electronics company in the USA, California was the preferred location because of the available labour and the accessible aw materials across the Pacific so the plant was set up in San Diego. A plant was later set up in Tijuana, Mexico taking advantage of the cheap labour. The rapid growth of the company led to another plant in the USA. The plants needed to be on flat land, be in a location where there was cheap labour, have good accessibility, be close to a market, be close to suppliers of glass and in an area, which has low transport, and utility costs.      

        The high tech industry is ‘footloose’ so they do not need to be situated in a specific location. Industries that have developed within the last 25 years are whose processing techniques often involved microelectronics but may include medical instruments, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. High tech industries require large inputs of information, expertise and R and D. High tech industries often locate in Science Parks. Science parks are often joint ventures between universities and local authorities. Two of the main reasons for the high tech development in certain areas of Britain are: the presence of Government sponsored research establishments, its attractive environment and its proximity to cultural centres such as London, Oxford and Cardiff. The Two types of Labour which are major factors effecting the location of most firms are: highly skilled and inventive research scientists and engineers and female workers. High tech industries tend to locate in agglomerated economies and locate in areas of maximum profit such as along the M4 and M11 corridors in England.

        The fordist industry require many unskilled workers so they locate where there is a abundance of workers and an area with a low minimum wage, location is a main factor for the fordism industry as they require many workers for the manufacturing belt, this job is very repetitive with few breaks. This industry may also locate in an NIC due to the cheap labour costs.

       To conclude the iron and steal industry does not need to be near its labour because the raw materials are heavy and would cost more to transport, Weber agrees with this theory. The fodist industry has to be located near to its labour to incur least costs for manufacturing. For the high tech industry there is no real need to locate near the labour or raw materials as the government may pay for research etc… so costs are small.