The term sector is commonly used to refer to a group of businesses or employers in the economy that share certain characteristics. These groups are defined in a number of ways, and there are at least two key dimensions pertinent to the labour market:

• The main (economic) activity of the organisation (e.g. manufacturing or service industries, health care or financial services); and
• How an organisation is owned and operated (e.g. the public, private and third sector).

A variety of organisations prepare sectoral labour market information. They use the term 'sector' in different ways, and their definitions used for a specific sector can vary from one organisation to another. We'll try to make some of this clearer in this area.