The term “economic activity” refers to any activity which produces a good or service. People earn a living by engaging in various economic activities. Though people engage in thousands of different economic activities around the world, they can all be classified into three major groups:
Primary Industry: These are industries which take natural resources from the earth. Because of this they are also called extractive industries. Some natural resources are renewable, which means they can replenish themselves over a period of time. Renewable resources include forests and fish stocks. Some natural resources are non-renewable. This means that they cannot easily be replenished. If we keep using them, they will eventually be completely used up. Non-renewable resources include crude oil, natural gas and bauxite.
Secondary Industry: These industries produce processed goods. Many take raw materials from primary industries and make them into products for sale. Examples of secondary industries include clothing manufacture and food processing. Secondary industries are also called manufacturing industries.
Tertiary Industry: These are industries which provide a service. Therefore they are known as service industries. They include the fire service, healthcare, financial services and tourism.
The CXC/CSEC syllabus requires you to study examples of each type of industry.