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THE greatest improvement in the productive powers of labour；
and the greater part of the skill； dexterity； and judgment with
which it is anywhere directed； or applied； seem to have been the
effects of the division of labour。
The effects of the division of labour； in the general
business of society； will be more easily understood by
considering in what manner it operates in some particular
manufactures。 It is commonly supposed to be carried furthest in
some very trifling ones； not perhaps that it really is carried
further in them than in others of more importance： but in those
trifling manufactures which are destined to supply the small
wants of but a small number of people； the whole number of
workmen must necessarily be small； and those employed in every
different branch of the work can often be collected into the same
workhouse； and placed at once under the view of the spectator。 In
those great manufactures； on the contrary； which are destined to
supply the great wants of the great body of the people； every
different branch of the work employs so great a number of workmen
that it is impossible to collect them all into the same
workhouse。 We can seldom see more； at one time； than those
employed in one single branch。 Though in such manufactures；
therefore； the work may really be divided into a much greater
number of parts than in those of a more trifling nature； the
division is not near so obvious； and has accordingly been much
less observed。
To take an example； therefore； from a very trifling
manufacture； but one in which the division of labour has been
very often taken notice of； the trade of the pin…maker； a workman
not educated to this business （which the division of labour has
rendered a distinct trade）； nor acquainted with the use of the
machinery employed in it （to the invention of which the same
division of labour has probably given occasion）； could scarce；
perhaps； with his utmost industry； make one pin in a day； and
certainly could not make twenty。 But in the way in which this
business is now carried on； not only the whole work is a peculiar
trade； but it is divided into a number of branches； of which the
greater part are likewise peculiar trades。 One man draws out the
wire； another straights it； a third cuts it； a fourth points it；
a fifth grinds it at the top for receiving； the head； to make the
head requires two or three distinct operations； to put it on is a
peculiar business； to whiten the pins is another； it is even a
trade by itself to put them into the paper； and the important
business of making a pin is； in this manner； divided into about
eighteen distinct operations； which； in some manufactories； are
all performed by distinct hands； though in others the same man
will sometimes perform two or three of them。 I have seen a small
manufactory of this kind where ten men only were employed； and
where some of them consequently performed two or three distinct
operations。 But though they were very poor； and therefore but
indifferently accommodated with the necessary machinery； they
could； when they exerted themselves； make among them about twelve
pounds of pins in a day。 There are in a pound upwards of four
thousand pins of a middling size。 Those ten persons； therefore；
could make among them upwards of forty…eight thousand pins in a
day。 Each person； therefore； making a tenth part of forty…eight
thousand pins； might be considered as making four thousand eight
hundred pins in a day。 But if they had all wrought separately and
independently； and without any of them having been educated to
this peculiar business； they certainly could not each of them
have made twenty； perhaps not one pin in a day； that is；
certainly； not the two hundred and fortieth； perhaps not the four
thousand eight hundredth part of what they are at present capable
of performing； in consequence of a proper division and
combination of their different operations。
In every other art and manufacture； the effects of the
division of labour are similar to what they are in this very
trifling one； though； in many of them； the labour can neither be
so much subdivided； nor reduced to so great a simplicity of
operation。 The division of labour； however； so far as it can be
introduced； occasions； in every art； a proportionable increase of
the productive powers of labour。 The separation of different
trades and employments from one another seems to have taken place
in consequence of this advantage。 This separation； too； is
generally called furthest in those countries which enjoy the
highest degree of industry and improvement； what is the work of
one man in a rude state of society being generally that of
several in an improved one。 In every improved society； the farmer
is generally nothing but a farmer； the manufacturer； nothing but
a manufacturer。 The labour； too； which is necessary to produce
any one complete manufacture is almost always divided among a
great number of hands。 How many different trades are employed in
each branch of the linen and woollen manufactures from the
growers of the flax and the wool； to the bleachers and smoothers
of the linen； or to the dyers and dressers of the cloth！ The
nature of agriculture； indeed； does not admit of so many
subdivisions of labour； nor of so complete a separation of one
business from another； as manufactures。 It is impossible to
separate so entirely the business of the grazier from that of the
corn…farmer as the trade of the carpenter is commonly separated
from that of the smith。 The spinner is almost always a distinct
person from the weaver； but the ploughman； the harrower； the
sower of the seed； and the reaper of the corn； are often the
same。 The occasions for those different sorts of labour returning
with the different seasons of the year； it is impossible that one
man should be constantly employed in any one of them。 This
impossibility of making so complete and entire a separation of
all the different branches of labour employed in agriculture is
perhaps the reason why the improvement of the productive powers
of labour in this art does not always keep pace with their
improvement in manufactures。 The most opulent nations； indeed；
generally excel all their neighbours in agriculture as well as in
manufactures； but they are commonly more distinguished by their
superiority in the latter than in the former。 Their lands are in
general better cultivated； and having more labour and expense
bestowed upon them； produce more in proportion to the extent and
natural fertility of the ground。 But this superiority of produce
is seldom much more than in proportion to the superiority of
labour and expense。 In agriculture； the labour of the rich
country is not always much more productive than that of the poor；
or； at least； it is never so much more productive as it commonly
is in manufactures。 The corn of the rich country； therefore； will
not always； in the same degree of goodness； come cheap