indústries

Industries are organized economic activities focused on the production of goods and services. They encompass each stage of value creation, from extraction and processing to distribution, marketing, and after-sales support. As a core component of economies, industries shape employment, capital allocation, innovation, and regional development.

Economic analysis commonly groups industries into sectors: the primary sector (extractive activities such as mining, agriculture, and forestry), the secondary sector (manufacturing and construction), and the tertiary sector (services, including trade, finance, education, and health). Some frameworks also recognize quaternary activities (knowledge-intensive activities such as information technology and research) and quinary activities (high-level decision making and complex services).

Industry structure evolves with technology and policy. Capital intensity, economies of scale, and global supply chains influence competitiveness. Industrial revolutions—mechanization, electrification, and digitalization—have repeatedly transformed which activities dominate production. In recent decades, globalization and automation have shifted jobs and investment, often concentrating activity in certain regions while promoting new clusters in others.

Environmental, social, and regulatory considerations increasingly shape industrial activity. Policies that support innovation, workforce training, infrastructure, and sustainable practices aim to balance growth with resilience. Regions may pursue industrial policy or economic diversification to manage transitions, reduce dependencies, and attract investment.

Note: The term is used across languages to denote the set of economic activities involved in producing goods and services.