What is the service sector?

The service sector is an umbrella term that describes any job that produces intangible value or goods. For example, a truck driver transporting food does not grow or harvest any food, but does provide value by bringing food to places to be eaten.

Countries with large service sectors, like the United States, are typically more developed than countries that primarily rely on agriculture or industrial goods. Service jobs include a variety of manual labor jobs, such as waiters and truck drivers, as well as knowledge-based jobs like financial planning. While value in other sectors is measured in the amount of goods produced, success in the service sector can be measured by the value a customer received.