Until the 1950s the coal industry maintained a steady level of production and employment, but since that time there has been a continuing decline in the number of miners in employment. Most of the pits which have been closed have still left coal to mine, but with oil and coal available more cheaply from abroad the demise of the industry has been inevitable.
Prior to the 1950s, the coal mining sector experienced a stable production and employment level. However, since then, there has been an ongoing decline in the number of miners working in the industry. The closure of many mines still contains coal reserves, but the industry's fate was sealed by cheaper oil and coal imports from abroad.