To reduce labor costs, manually intensive processes were outsourced, keeping only the highly skilled worker in billund. LEGO's workforce was gradually reduced from 8,300 employees in 2003 to approximately 4,200 in 2010. Additionally, production had to be relocated to places closer to its natural markets. As a consequence of all these changes, LEGO transformed itself from a manufacturing firm to a market-oriented company that is capable of reacting fast to changing global demand.