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Sectors of industry

The sectors of industry and the economy explained

The three main sectors of industry in which a company can operate are:

  • primary
  • secondary
  • tertiary

Primary

The primary sector of industry is concerned with the extraction of or natural resources from the land. Any business that grows goods or extracts materials from the land would be classed as a primary sector business.

Examples of businesses that operate in the primary sector would be farming, mining, fishing or oil production.

A North Sea oil rig
Image caption,
Oil extraction is an industry in the primary sector

Secondary

The secondary sector of industry is concerned with . This would involve taking the raw materials from the primary sector and converting them into new products.

Examples of businesses that operate in the secondary sector would be car manufacturers, food production or building companies.

Car manufacturing is an industry in the secondary sector
Image caption,
Workers at a car assembly plant

Tertiary

The tertiary sector of industry is concerned with providing a service. Services are activities that are done by people or businesses for consumers.

Examples of businesses that operate in the tertiary sector would be hairdressers, banks, supermarkets or cinemas.

A hairdresser at work
Image caption,
Hairdressing is a service in the tertiary sector