majandussektorite

Majandussektorite, or economic sectors, are the broad groupings used to categorize economic activity within an economy. They provide a framework for analyzing how production and services are organized, how they contribute to GDP and employment, and how policy may affect different parts of the economy.

Traditionally, economies have been described using three sectors: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary sector includes the extraction of natural resources and activities such as agriculture, forestry, fishing, and mining. The secondary sector covers manufacturing and construction, where raw materials are transformed into goods. The tertiary sector encompasses services, including wholesale and retail trade, transportation, financial services, health, education, hospitality, and public administration.

In many advanced economies, additional sectors are used to capture more detail. The quaternary sector refers to knowledge-based activities such as information technology, research and development, higher education, and media. The quinary sector covers high-level decision-making and specialized services, including government leadership, top-level management, and some non-profit and cultural activities. These expanded classifications help explain the growing importance of knowledge-intensive and policy-driven activities in modern economies.

Usage and measurement rely on national accounts and the System of National Accounts to assign economic activities to sectors. Sector shares of GDP and employment illuminate structural change, economic development, and policy needs. However, borders between sectors are porous; firms often operate across sectors, and digitization can shift activity between traditional categories. In many economies, including Estonia, the service (tertiary) sector is dominant, with important roles for manufacturing, forestry, and knowledge-intensive services in driving growth and employment.