The Service Industries

During the 1960s and 1970s, manufacturing in the UK declined rapidly as a series of major industrial disputes and cheap coal imports made UK produced goods more and more expensive.

During this period of globalisation, the labour structure of the UK changed. As the primary sector employment declined, there was an increase in the demand for jobs in schools, hospitals and the retail industries. This led to further rural depopulation and the loss of many rural services - for example, local butchers, grocery shops and post offices closed. By the end of the 20th century, over half the population now worked in the tertiary sector and the financial services industry is currently the fastest growing area.

These changes have continued into the 21st century and the use of computers and computer systems, plus the need for increased research and development of products and business consultants, has given rise to the quaternary sector, which is regarded as part of the services industry. At the time of writing this quiz, about seventy eight percent of the UK labour force works in service sector industries.