Production and Demand for Steel, and Workers Employed in Steel Industry
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The line graphs below show the production and demand for steel in million tonnes and the number of workers employed in the steel industry in the UK in 2010.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The line graphs illustrate the production and demand for steel in million tonnes alongside the workforce size in the UK steel industry throughout 2010.
Overall, the production of steel consistently surpassed demand across most of the year, except for a reversal in December. Employment in the steel industry experienced a steady decline, with the workforce size shrinking substantially over the year.
In January, steel production commenced at 4 million tonnes, while demand stood at half this figure, around 2 million tonnes. Production maintained a higher trend than demand for the majority of the year, with both metrics exhibiting stability through the second quarter. By August, production slightly exceeded 3 million tonnes, while demand was approximately 1 million tonnes lower. However, from September, both production and demand experienced significant drops, with demand surpassing production in December.
The employment trend in the steel sector shows a marked reduction over the same period. The workforce began the year with 5 million employees, falling by 2 million by April. Although the workforce displayed minor fluctuations over the summer months, it hovered around 3.5 million employees in August. Following this, the employment figure experienced a sharp decline, ending the year with just 1 million employees in December.
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Sample Answer 2
The line graphs illustrate the production and demand for steel in million tonnes in the UK throughout 2010, along with the employment figures in the UK steel industry over the same period.
Overall, steel production generally exceeded demand during most of the year, except for a significant shift in December when demand rose above production. Additionally, the employment numbers in this sector saw a continuous decline, influencing the production trends as the year progressed.
In January, steel production reached 4 million tonnes, which was twice the demand at that time. Following this, production remained higher than demand through April, with both figures remaining close. By August, production fell to just over 3 million tonnes while demand held steady. However, starting in September, both production and demand dropped sharply, with demand eventually surpassing production in December as it climbed to 2 million tonnes, while production remained below 1 million tonnes.
Regarding employment in the UK steel sector, the workforce started at 5 million employees in January and peaked slightly in February at around 5.8 million. From March onwards, the number of workers steadily decreased, averaging 2 million employees through the summer. This downward trend continued into the final quarter, with employment in December falling sharply to a low of 1 million, coinciding with the lowest levels of production for the year.
Sample Answer 3
The line graphs present data on the production and demand for steel in million tonnes and the employment levels in the UK steel industry over 2010.
Overall, the production of steel was consistently higher than the demand until the final month, when demand briefly exceeded production. Meanwhile, employment in the steel industry showed a marked downward trend, with the number of workers decreasing steadily throughout the year.
At the start of 2010, steel production in the UK was at 4 million tonnes, which was twice the level of demand at that time. Production levels remained relatively steady, maintaining a noticeable gap above demand until September. However, both figures dropped significantly from September to November, with production falling rapidly, and by December, the demand had overtaken production for the first time that year.
Regarding employment in the steel sector, the workforce began with around 5 million employees in January, but this figure declined sharply to 3 million by April. Although the number of employees saw slight fluctuations through the summer months, it stabilized at approximately 3.5 million in August. From then onwards, the employment count experienced a continuous decrease, ultimately reaching just 1 million workers by December.
Sample Answer 4
The line graphs illustrate the comparative trends in production and demand for steel in million tonnes in the UK during 2010, alongside employment numbers in the same industry for the year.
Overall, the production of steel exceeded its demand throughout most of the year, with demand only overtaking production in the final month. Additionally, the employment trend in this sector showed a consistent decrease from the beginning to the end of the year.
Steel production commenced at around 4 million tonnes in January, significantly higher than the demand, which was approximately half that amount. During the first quarter, demand remained relatively stable, while production peaked in April, reaching nearly 5 million tonnes. Following this, production fluctuated slightly but stayed above demand levels, which saw a few dips and peaks over the subsequent months. Toward the end of the year, both production and demand declined sharply, with demand exceeding production in December when demand rose to 2 million tonnes as production fell below 1 million tonnes.
The employment figures reveal a starting workforce of 5 million employees in January, with a brief increase in February before declining to around 3 million by April. Throughout the summer, worker numbers varied slightly, maintaining around 3.5 million in August. However, after August, employment dropped steadily, reaching its lowest point of 1 million employees by December, mirroring the decrease seen in steel production during the final months.
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