4A.1A: Classifying Economic Activity
Economic activity can be classified by sector (primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary) and also by type of employment (part-time/full-time, temporary/permanent, employed/self-employed.
There is considerable variation in economic activity throughout the UK. The structure of the local economy affects perception of place.
Economic sectors vary from place to place, reflecting different economic processes that have affected places over time.
The four economic sectors are:
In Great Britain in 1841, 36% worked in the secondary sector, 33% in the tertiary sector (services, quaternary and quinary) and 22% in the primary sector.
In England and Wales in 2011, 81% worked in the tertiary sector, 9% in the secondary and 1% in the primary.
Employment Type
Places can also vary in their type of employment:
In 2015 there were 32 million workers in the UK, with 1.85 million unemployed (5.6%). There are three main types of worker:
Economic sectors vary from place to place, reflecting different economic processes that have affected places over time.
The four economic sectors are:
- Primary (agriculture, forestry, mining, fishing)
- Rural areas tend to have more primary employment in farming, mining, quarrying and fishing
- This tends to be low-paid, manual work
- Secondary (manufacturing)
- There is more secondary employment in northern cities such as Manchester, Sheffield and Glasgow, but this has declined over time.
- Tertiary (retail, services, office work)
- In the tertiary, or service sector, jobs are concentrated in urban areas but these vary from cleaners on minimum wage to very high paid professionals like lawyers.
- Quaternary (scientific research, ICT)
- Quaternary jobs in research and development and hi-tech industries are found in London and the South East.
In Great Britain in 1841, 36% worked in the secondary sector, 33% in the tertiary sector (services, quaternary and quinary) and 22% in the primary sector.
In England and Wales in 2011, 81% worked in the tertiary sector, 9% in the secondary and 1% in the primary.
Employment Type
Places can also vary in their type of employment:
- Part time/full time
- Temporary/permanent
- Employed/self-employed
In 2015 there were 32 million workers in the UK, with 1.85 million unemployed (5.6%). There are three main types of worker:
- Those with contracts (permanent or fixed)
- In 2015, there where 18.4 with full time contracts and 9 million with part time (a growing trend)
- workers (agency staff and volunteers)
- Self-employed (freelancers, consultants and contractors)
The Quinary Sector? (Not on spec, but in textbook)
The highest levels of decision making in an economy - the top business executives and officials in government, science, universities, non-profit organisations, healthcare, culture and the media. It is concentrated in STEM employment.
The quinary sector is an important aspect of the increasing knowledge economy, creating prosperity in areas of the UK like the Cambridge triangle, M4 corridor and London.
As tertiary industries, (especially quaternary and quinary) increase, social class is being replaced by level of education and skills. Personal mobility is more dependent on access and opportunities for training than place of birth. This means that accepting higher levels of education at university and apprenticeships allows people from working class families to access higher paid and skilled jobs. University graduates often settle in the place they were trained.
Places embracing growth employment sectors - Manchester, London, the M4 corridor - become winners.
Places like Cornwall are relative losers, marginalised and deprived.
Some winners may become deprived (Teeside) or vice versa (Lake District).
Larger cities in the UK have 9% of land, 54% of people, 60% of jobs, 63% of national economic output.
Controversial Aspects of Work
The quinary sector is an important aspect of the increasing knowledge economy, creating prosperity in areas of the UK like the Cambridge triangle, M4 corridor and London.
As tertiary industries, (especially quaternary and quinary) increase, social class is being replaced by level of education and skills. Personal mobility is more dependent on access and opportunities for training than place of birth. This means that accepting higher levels of education at university and apprenticeships allows people from working class families to access higher paid and skilled jobs. University graduates often settle in the place they were trained.
Places embracing growth employment sectors - Manchester, London, the M4 corridor - become winners.
Places like Cornwall are relative losers, marginalised and deprived.
Some winners may become deprived (Teeside) or vice versa (Lake District).
Larger cities in the UK have 9% of land, 54% of people, 60% of jobs, 63% of national economic output.
Controversial Aspects of Work
- The gender gap, on average men are paid 10% more than women (though this has and is narrowing)
- Zero-hours contracts, for casual piece work or on-call work, means there are no obligations either way.
- The 'living wage' does have to be paid, and the National Living Wage NWL was launched in April 2016.
- This is increasingly popular, being used by Wetherspoon's and McDonald's
- In 2015 illegal working was made a criminal offence in a crackdown on the black market. These relies on illegal migrant workers, often with very low pay and poor conditions.
- Temporary and seasonal work often has low pay (e.g. tourism and agriculture)
