6.2. PEOPLE ENGAGED IN GED IN TERTIARY ACTIVITIES

Tertiary activities are related to the service sector. Manpower is an important component of the Tertiary and service sector as most of the tertiary activities are performed by skilled labour, professionally trained experts and consultants.

Tertiary activities refer to the services that support the economy, such as healthcare, education, law, and governance. These services rely heavily on skilled workers who have specific training and expertise. Unlike primary activities (like farming) and secondary activities (like manufacturing), which involve the production of goods, tertiary activities focus on providing valuable services to individuals and businesses.

Think of tertiary activities as a restaurant. The restaurant doesn’t grow food (primary) or cook food on a mass scale (secondary) but provides a service by preparing meals and serving them to customers, emphasizing the hospitality element which requires trained staff.

In the initial stages of economic development, larger proportion of people worked in the primary sector. In a developed economy, the majority of workers get employment in tertiary activity and a moderate proportion is employed in the secondary sector.

As economies develop, there is a shift in the types of jobs available. Initially, many people work in the primary sector, which includes agriculture and resource extraction. Over time, as economies industrialize, more jobs are created in secondary activities such as manufacturing. Eventually, as societies continue to develop, the service sector (tertiary activities) becomes the main source of employment, as more people move into jobs providing services rather than producing goods.

Imagine a small town that starts with farmers (primary sector). As it grows, factories open up, employing some of these farmers (secondary sector). Eventually, as the economy matures, schools, hospitals, and restaurants open, and the town’s residents find work mainly in those service-based roles (tertiary sector).

Tertiary activities include both production and exchange. The production involves the ‘provision’ of services that are ‘consumed’. The output is indirectly measured in terms of wages and salaries.

Tertiary activities encompass a wide range of services, from healthcare to education and legal assistance. While these services do not produce tangible goods, they are still vital for the economy. The value of these services is often measured through the compensation workers receive in the form of wages and salaries, since the output is not something physical that can be counted like crops or manufactured items.

Consider a teacher. Their service is teaching students, which is consumed by the students when they learn. Instead of producing a product, the teacher’s value is reflected in their salary, which is linked to the educational outcomes of the students.

The main difference between secondary activities and tertiary activities is that the expertise provided by services relies more heavily on specialised skills, experience and knowledge of the workers rather than on the production techniques, machinery and factory processes.

The critical distinction between tertiary and secondary activities lies in the skills required. Tertiary activities depend on highly trained individuals who possess specialized knowledge, while secondary activities rely more on machinery and production processes. This means that jobs in services often require unique qualifications, and the overall effectiveness of these services is strongly tied to the workers' skills and experience.

Think about a car mechanic versus a doctor. The mechanic uses tools and equipment to fix cars (secondary activity), while the doctor uses their extensive knowledge and experience to diagnose and treat patients (tertiary activity). The skill and education required in the medical field emphasize the essence of services provided in tertiary activities.

Common examples are the work of a plumber, electrician, technician, launderer, barber, shopkeeper, driver, cashier, teacher, doctor, lawyer and publisher etc.

Tertiary activities encompass a diverse range of occupations that provide necessary services to society. Examples include trades (like plumbing and electrician work) and professional services (like teaching and medicine). Each of these professions plays a crucial role in the functioning of modern economies by ensuring that various needs are met.

Consider a city where you have access to various services: you go to a doctor for healthcare, a teacher for education, an electrician for electrical issues, and a shopkeeper for everyday goods. Each of these professionals provides essential services that keep daily life running smoothly.

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