Economic Sectors | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Economic Sectors

• An economic activity involves the production, purchase, or sale of goods and services.
• Economic activities are categorized into four key sectors:
  • Primary Sector: Involves industries like mining, fishing, and farming.
  • Secondary Sector: Encompasses factory workers, clothing production, and steel manufacturing.
  • Tertiary Sector: Includes professions such as nurses, lawyers, teachers, shop assistants, and chefs.
  • Quaternary Sector: Comprises individuals like hi-tech scientists involved in research and development.

Explanation of Economic Sectors

• Classification System for Types of Employment:
  • It is a system categorizing employment into four groups: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
  • For instance, a farmer belongs to the primary sector, while a teacher is part of the tertiary sector.
• Understanding Economic Sectors:
  • Economic sectors help in grouping different types of employment based on their nature of work.
  • For example, manufacturing industries fall under the secondary sector, while IT services are part of the quaternary sector.

Significance of Economic Sectors

• Contribution to GDP:
  • Economic sectors play a vital role in determining a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
  • Primary sectors often dominate the GDP of agrarian economies, while developed nations rely more on the tertiary and quaternary sectors.
• Employment Opportunities:
  • Different sectors offer diverse job opportunities catering to various skill sets and qualifications.
  • For instance, the primary sector employs workers involved in agriculture, mining, and fishing, while the quaternary sector hires professionals in research and development.