WHAT ARE THE THREE SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY?

The economy is divided into three sectors: primary, secondary and tertiary.
The primary sector provides raw materials from nature.
The secondary sector processes raw materials and provides manufactured products.
The tertiary sector provides a variety of services.

1. Primary sector: raw materials are extracted from nature. Agriculture, forestry, mining and fishing are primary sector activities. These activities provide the materials that we need to manufacture products.
2. Secondary sector: raw materials are processed or used to manufacture new products. these products are manufactured in factories and workshops.
3. Tertiary sector: activities that provide a service make up the tertiary sector. For example transportation services take products to shops and supermarkets. Doctors and teachers also work in the tertiary sector.

 Manufactured products are used and recycled or thrown away. Recycled products are an important source of raw materials in today's economy.
Not all raw materials come from nature now! We can recycle products made from glass, paper and plastic. We can even recycle clothes and shoes.

Picture from Social Science LH