Swansea originally developed as centre for metals and mining, especially the
copper industry, from the beginning of the 18th century. The industry reached
its apogee in the 1880s, when 60% of the copper ores imported to Britain were
smelted in the Lower Swansea valley. However, by the end of the Second World
War these heavy industries were in decline, and over the post-war decades
Swansea shared in the general trend towards a post-industrial, service sector
economy.
Of the 105,900 people estimated to work within the City and County of
Swansea, over 90% are employed in the service sectors, with relatively high
