Employment by Sector in Four Countries

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Writing Prompt

The table below shows the percentage of workers employed in three sectors of the economy – agriculture, industry and services – in four countries in 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The rows list the four countries and the columns give the percentage of workers in agriculture, industry and services. In Country A, 3 per cent worked in agriculture, 22 per cent in industry and 75 per cent in services. In Country B, the figures were 10 per cent, 30 per cent and 60 per cent respectively. Country C had 40 per cent in agriculture, 25 per cent in industry and 35 per cent in services. Country D showed 5 per cent in agriculture, 45 per cent in industry and 50 per cent in services. Services was the largest sector in three of the four countries, while agriculture dominated in Country C.

Show Band 8–9 model answer

The table compares the proportions of the workforce employed in agriculture, industry and services in four countries in 2020.

Overall, services constituted the largest source of employment in three of the four countries, while agriculture was dominant only in Country C. In addition, Country A and Country C represent opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of agricultural dependence.

Country A had by far the smallest share of agricultural workers, at just 3%, and the highest proportion in services, with three-quarters of its workforce in this sector. It also had a relatively modest industrial sector, accounting for 22% of employment.

Country B showed a more balanced structure. Although services still formed the largest sector at 60%, industry employed nearly a third of workers, and agriculture, at 10%, was noticeably more significant than in Country A.

Country C was the only country where agriculture was the main employer, engaging 40% of the workforce. Services were less developed, at 35%, and industry took the smallest share at 25%.

By contrast, Country D relied heavily on industry, which accounted for 45% of jobs, the highest industrial figure among the four. Services still employed half of its workers, while agriculture, at 5%, played only a minor role.

Why this response works

This response fulfils the task by clearly describing all key data and making relevant comparisons, especially between contrasting countries and sectors. The overview is explicit and highlights the main trends, satisfying the requirement for a clear overall summary. Information is logically grouped by country and then compared across sectors, leading to strong cohesion and coherence. A wide range of accurate vocabulary (e.g. “dominant,” “balanced structure,” “relied heavily on”) and varied grammatical structures are used with a high degree of accuracy. Data are reported precisely and there are no noticeable language errors.