Which type of production typically utilizes a high proportion of employee effort compared to machinery?

The correct answer is that labour-intensive production typically utilizes a high proportion of employee effort compared to machinery. In this type of production, businesses rely heavily on human labor to carry out tasks, often because the work requires skilled workers or because the scale of production does not justify the investment in extensive machinery and automation.

Labour-intensive industries, such as agriculture or artisanal crafts, often prioritize the skills and efforts of workers to create products, which can either enhance quality or provide services that machinery cannot replicate easily. This approach is beneficial in scenarios where flexibility, craftsmanship, or continuous adaptation to changes in product design or customization are needed.

In contrast, capital-intensive production involves a significant reliance on machinery and technology, often found in industries like automobile manufacturing. Flow production and automated production also emphasize machinery use to streamline processes and reduce costs but do not focus on human input to the same extent. Each of these alternatives prioritizes different resources and strategies, highlighting the unique nature of labour-intensive production in balancing human effort and physical resources.