Tertiary Sector. Quaternary Sector

Tertiary Sector

The tertiary sector of the economy is also known as the service industry. This sector sells the goods produced by the secondary sector and provides commercial services to both the general population and to businesses in all five economic sectors.

Activities associated with this sector include retail and wholesale sales, transportation and distribution, restaurants, clerical services, media, tourism, insurance, banking, health care, and law.

In most developed and developing countries, a growing proportion of workers is devoted to the tertiary sector. In the United States, about 61.9% of the labor force is tertiary workers.1 The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts nonagriculture self-employed into its own category, and that accounts for another 5.6% of workers, though the sector for these people would be determined by their job.

Quaternary Sector

Although many economic models divide the economy into only three sectors, others divide it into four or even five. These two sectors are closely linked with the services of the tertiary sector, which is why they can also be grouped into this branch. The fourth sector of the economy, the quaternary sector, consists of intellectual activities often associated with technological innovation. It is sometimes called the knowledge economy.

Activities associated with this sector include government, culture, libraries, scientific research, education, and information technology. These intellectual services and activities are what drive technological advancement, which can have a huge impact on short- and long-term economic growth. Roughly 4.1% of U.S. workers are employed in the quaternary sector.1

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