Quaternary sector of the economy facts for kids

The quaternary sector of the economy is all about knowledge and information. Think of it as the part of the economy where people use their brains to create, share, and use information. It's a big step up from just making things or selling them.

This sector includes things like:

• Information technology (IT), which is all about computers and how they work.
• Media, like TV, radio, and online news.
• Research and development (R&D), where people invent new things or find new ways to do old things.
• Services that create or share information, such as blogging or online learning.
• Services that use knowledge, like consulting (giving expert advice), education (teaching), and financial planning (helping people manage money).

Sometimes, the quaternary sector is also described as pure services. This can include the entertainment industry, which covers movies, music, and games. It also includes government services. Some people even call these types of services the "quinary sector," which is an even newer part of the economy.

How the Quaternary Sector Fits In

To understand the quaternary sector, it helps to know about the three-sector model of the economy. This model divides the economy into three main parts:

• Primary sector: This is where we get raw materials, like farming, mining, or fishing.
• Secondary sector: This is where raw materials are turned into goods, like factories making cars or clothes.
• Tertiary sector: This is the service sector, where people provide services instead of making goods. Examples include shops, hospitals, and transportation.

The quaternary sector is different because it doesn't just process what the tertiary sector does. It's more about ideas and information. It's not directly connected to making physical products like the first three sectors.

Why the Quaternary Sector is Important

In today's world, creating, understanding, and sharing information is super important. It's so important that it needs its own special part of the economy. This sector grows a lot in countries that are very developed. In these countries, fewer people work in farming or factories.

The quaternary sector needs people who are highly educated and skilled. For example, in the UK economy, the tertiary and quaternary sectors together employ most of the workers. About 76% of people work in these service and knowledge-based jobs. This shows how much modern economies rely on information and knowledge.