Sectors of activity

Sectors of activity

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There are three main sectors of activity:

Primary sector Secondary sector Tertiary sector

Sectors of activity

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The primary sector extracts or harvests products from the earth. This sector includes the production of raw material and basic foods.

Primary Sector

Activities:

Agriculture (both subsistence and commercial);Farming;Grazing;Hunting, gathering and fishing;Mining, forestry and quarrying.

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The secondary sector manufactures finished goods. All activities of manufacturing, processing, and construction are included in this sector.

Secondary Sector

Activities:

Industry (automobile production, textile production, chemical and engineering industries, aerospace manufacturing);Construction (metal working and smelting);Water, gas and electricity supplier.

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The tertiary sector is the service industry. This sector provides services to the general population and to businesses.

Tertiary Sector

Activities:Healthcare;Education;Law;Banking and other financial services, Insurance;Transportation and distribution;Entertainment (movies, television, radio, music, theatre, etc.);Restaurants;media and tourism.

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The workforce includes all employed or unemployed people. Employees are those that develop a paid activity and unemployed are those that are available for work.

Activity rate represents the proportion of employees in the total population. It varies for several reasons. For example, the oldest the population, smaller will be the activity rate. Another reason is the increase of years spent in school that delay the entry in the market.

Workforce and Activity Rate

In the beginning of the nineteenth century, the main sector of activity was the primary sector, but after the Industrial Revolution, the secondary sector became more important.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, it grew the proportion of workers devoted to the tertiary sector.

The main reasons are: The technologic and scientific development

The significant increase of transportation activities, trade, development and research The rise of new social activities.

Workforce and Sectors of Activity

The primary sector has more importance in developing countries.

The secondary sector has more importance in Eastern Asia and in developed countries.

The tertiary sector is the one that has more importance in all countries, but especially in developed countries.

Workforce and Sectors of Activity

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