Industry/Tertiary Sector
The tertiary sector of industry is also known as the service industry. It involves the provision of services to other businesses or people. Services may involve the transport, distribution and sale of goods from producer to a consumer as may happen in wholesaling and retailing, or may involve the provision of a service, such as in tourism or entertainment. The goods may be transformed in the process of providing the service, as happens in the restaurant industry. There may not even be any goods involved, as in the sex industry. However the focus is on people interacting with people and serving the customer rather than transforming goods.
It sector includes all types of services ranging from lawyers and consultants to your local hairdresser (tourism is also a major branch). For the last 20 years there has been a substantial shift from the other two industry sectors to the Tertiary Sector in industrialised countries.
Public utilities are often considered part of the tertiary sector as they provide services to people, while the creating the utility's infrastructure is often considered part of the secondary sector, even thought the same business may be involved in both aspects of the operation.
See also:
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