Economic Activity and Types of Industries

Economic Activity and Types of Industries

• Overview of Learning Journey
  • Explore categories of different industries.
  • Provide examples for each type of industry.
  • Understand how industry sectors evolve with development over time.

Types of Industries

• Employment is classified into four sectors:

Primary Sector

• Focus: Growing or extracting raw materials.
• Example Jobs: Farmers, miners.

Secondary Sector

• Focus: Manufacturing and processing of goods using raw materials from the primary sector.
• Example Jobs: Factory workers, construction workers.

Tertiary Sector

• Focus: Providing services to individuals and businesses.
• Example Jobs: Retail workers, healthcare providers, educators.

Quaternary Sector

• Focus: Providing information services and high-level intellectual services (knowledge sector).
• Example Jobs: IT professionals, researchers, financial analysts.

Understanding Industry Sectors Change Over Time

• Countries undergo shifts in employment structures as they develop:
  • Pre-industrial: High percentage of employment in the primary sector with low development.
  • Industrial: Growth in the secondary sector as manufacturing becomes prominent.
  • Post-industrial: Shift towards tertiary and quaternary sectors, focusing more on services and technology.

Employment Share in the UK Over Time

• Employment Distribution Over the Years (%):
  • Pre-industrial (1800 AD): Primarily primary sector.
  • Industrial (2000 AD): Rise in secondary sector, slight increase in tertiary.
  • Post-industrial (2020 AD): Dominance of tertiary and quaternary sectors.

Key Terms Definitions

• Pre-industrial: Society predominantly engaged in agriculture and extractive industries.
• Industrial: Society characterized by factory-based production and manufacturing.
• Post-industrial: Society where services and information technology dominate over manufacturing industries.

Clark-Fisher Model

• Employ a card sort task that illustrates the progression through pre-industrial, industrial, and post-industrial economies.
  • Example activities include categorizing business types based on their operational sector within the timeline of economic development.

Practical Application

• Identify businesses in your local community and analyze their sector:

  • Complete an analysis table:

  • Name of the Business

  • Sector

  • Description of Business Activities

  • This exercise further illustrates the importance of understanding different industries and contributes to recognizing the dynamics of local economies.