Services
Services is a broad economic sector encompassing all commercial activities that produce intangible outputs rather than physical goods. The sector includes a diverse range of industries such as finance, telecommunications, tourism, retail, healthcare, education, professional services, hospitality, transport and logistics. Services typically involve the provision of expertise, convenience, experience or access rather than the transfer of manufactured products. In modern economies, the services sector has become the dominant contributor to gross domestic product and employment, often accounting for more than half of economic activity in developed and many developing nations. The sector is characterised by direct interaction between providers and consumers, though digital transformation has increasingly enabled remote and automated service delivery. Services trade has grown rapidly with globalisation, supported by advances in information technology and the liberalisation of cross-border service provision. International organisations such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development monitor services sector performance and trade flows as key indicators of economic development and structural transformation. The sector's growth reflects broader economic shifts away from agriculture and manufacturing towards knowledge-intensive and consumer-oriented activities. Services businesses range from small local enterprises to multinational corporations, and the sector's performance is closely watched as a barometer of consumer confidence and overall economic health.
Services Updates
The least developed countries report 2025
11th February 2026 Services are playing an increasingly important role in the global economy, including in least developed countries (LDCs). This shift, fuelled by... →
B20 Task Force provides blueprint for reinvigorating manufacturing
By: Tasneem Bulbulia 21st November 2025 To counter sluggish global growth and rising trade fragmentation, deeper and more sustainable industrialisation is increasingly viewed as the ideal... →
Important shift
By: Terence Creamer 21st November 2025 There are signs that the long-promised change to the composition of government spending – from consumption to capital investment – is at last... →
Opposition to somatology regulations is increasing sharply
20th November 2025 Solidarity has noted a significant response from the somatology and beauty industry since the announcement by the Department of Health in the... →
China pledges $3.5m for South Africa's HIV response
By: Reuters 20th November 2025 China has pledged $3.49-million to support HIV prevention services in South Africa over the next two years under a new partnership facilitated by... →
Guinea-Bissau's Embalo faces tough re-election bid after unstable first term
By: Reuters 20th November 2025 Incumbent Umaro Sissoco Embalo faces surprisingly strong competition in Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election on Sunday, a contest unfolding... →
Amnesty International urges G20 to spotlight human rights
By: Thabi Shomolekae 20th November 2025 Amnesty International South Africa has challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government to demonstrate its commitment to addressing human... →
G20: The world and South Africa need principled leadership
20th November 2025 With multiple crises spiralling out of control around the world, driving global inequality between and within countries, world leaders must... →
How Free is Mickey Mouse? Disney Draws the Line on Mickey Jewellery
19th November 2025 Mickey Mouse is making headlines, and this time, it’s not for his on-screen antics. Instead, the iconic mouse has stepped off the screen and into... →
NHI: Where are we now?
19th November 2025 After the Department of Health's presentation to parliament and the Medium-Term Budget Statement, NHI is back in the news. Let's try to get a grip... →
