
Question:
The graph compares employment rates in three sectors of the economy, in the UK, 2000-2010. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Band 9 Answer
The graph compares employment rates in three sectors of the UK economy—agriculture, industry, and services—over the decade from 2000 to 2010. Overall, the chart clearly demonstrates a significant shift towards the services sector, while employment in the industry sector shows a notable decline, and the agriculture sector remains consistently low throughout the period.
In 2000, the services sector accounted for roughly 75% of employment, which steadily increased to nearly 80% by 2010. Conversely, the industry sector experienced a decline from about 21% in 2000 to around 17% in 2010, reflecting the gradual downsizing of manufacturing and related activities. The agriculture sector, on the other hand, remained marginal—holding at approximately 4% or even slightly lower—throughout the period.
These figures highlight a clear transition in the UK economy, where a growing number of jobs have shifted towards the services sector, thereby underlining the diminishing role of traditional industrial and agricultural employment over the decade.
Overall, the data underscores a trend towards a more service-oriented economy, with marked declines in both industry and agriculture employment rates.
Vocabulary
- Significant shift
- Notable decline
- Marginal
- Steadily
- Underscoring
- Transition
- Service-oriented
- Diminishing
- Traditional
- Trend
Band 8 Answer
The graph compares the employment rates in three key sectors of the UK economy—agriculture, industry, and services—from 2000 to 2010. It is evident that while the services sector maintained a high and slightly increasing employment rate, the industry sector saw a reduction, and the agriculture sector remained very low throughout the period.
In 2000, about 75% of the workforce was employed in the services sector, which rose modestly to nearly 80% by 2010. In contrast, the industry sector’s share of employment decreased from roughly 21% in 2000 to approximately 17% in 2010. The agriculture sector consistently accounted for a very small proportion of employment, at around 4% or less.
These trends indicate that the UK economy became increasingly dominated by the services sector over the decade, while the contributions from industry and agriculture diminished. Such a shift reflects broader changes in the economic structure and job market of the country.
Overall, the graph illustrates a clear reallocation of employment away from traditional sectors towards a more service-based economy.
Vocabulary
- Key sectors
- Modestly
- Diminished
- Consistently
- Reallocation
- Dominated
- Broader changes
- Economic structure
- Job market
- Reflects
Band-7 Answer
The graph shows the employment rates in three sectors of the UK economy—agriculture, industry, and services—from 2000 to 2010. It is clear that the services sector had the highest employment rate throughout the period, while the industry sector experienced a decline, and the agriculture sector remained very low.
In 2000, the services sector accounted for about 75% of employment, which increased to nearly 80% by 2010. At the same time, the industry sector dropped from around 21% to about 17%. The agriculture sector stayed around 4% or less during the entire period.
This data shows a shift towards more jobs in the services sector and fewer in the industry and agriculture sectors, reflecting changes in the economic landscape of the UK.
Overall, the graph indicates that the UK has become more service-oriented, with a steady increase in services employment and a decline in the other two sectors.
Vocabulary
- Shift
- Steady increase
- Decline
- Service-oriented
- Economic landscape
- Highest
- Drop
- Marginal
- Reflecting
- Proportion
Band-6 Answer
The graph compares employment rates in three parts of the UK economy – agriculture, industry, and services – from 2000 to 2010. It shows that most people worked in the services sector, while fewer were employed in industry, and very few worked in agriculture.
In 2000, about 75% of people were employed in services, 21% in industry, and around 4% in agriculture. By 2010, the percentage of people working in services increased to about 80%, while the industry sector fell to around 17%. The agriculture sector remained very low, at about 3–4%.
This shows that over the ten years, there was a clear shift towards more employment in the services sector, with a decrease in the industry sector and almost no change in agriculture.
Overall, the graph tells us that the UK economy became more focused on services during this period.
Vocabulary
- Employment rates
- Sectors
- Increase
- Decrease
- Most
- Very few
- Shift
- Focus
- Over the ten years
- Change
Connectors Used
- Overall
- Meanwhile
- In addition
- Conversely
- Thus
- Furthermore
- For example
- Notably
- Whereas
- Consequently
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