The Service Industries

It is likely that you, or someone in your family, works in one of the service industries. The service industries do not produce goods; instead they distribute them, finance them, or provide services for business or consumers. Service activities include trade (wholesale and retail), financial services (banks, insurance companies, etc.), business services (accountants, consultants, etc.), leisure services (restaurants and recreation), personal services (dry cleaners, travel agents, etc.), and public services (education, health and government). All together these economic sectors employed almost nine million people in the year 1996.

The service sector has become the engine that drives the growth of the Canadian economy. As services grow, the economy grows; where they locate - be they law firms or fast food outlets - determine the kinds of jobs that are available for Canadians. Since services now contribute such a large proportion of jobs in the Canadian economy even slight changes in the amount or location of service activity or modest shifts in the specialization in services have major economic impacts on many communities.

In order to understand the importance of the service industry to the prosperity and well-being of Canadians various aspects of the service industry in 1996 are explored in 16 maps grouped into five themes.