1.
service industry; service sector
the sector of the economy that provides services rather than manufactured goods
サービス業で働いている。
I work in the service industry.
サービス業は休日が不規則になりがちだ。
In the service industry, days off tend to be irregular.
日本の経済はサービス業を中心に成長してきた。
Japan's economy has grown centering on the service industry.
Composed of サービス (service) + 業 (industry, business). Covers a wide range of businesses including hospitality, retail, food service, healthcare, and entertainment.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- サービス業に従事する: to be engaged in the service industry
- サービス業で働く: to work in the service industry
- サービス業の人手不足: labor shortage in the service sector
- サービス業全般: service industry as a whole
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 接客業: customer-facing work — specifically jobs involving direct interaction with customers
- 製造業: manufacturing industry — produces physical goods, in contrast to services
- 第三次産業: tertiary industry — the economic classification that includes services
NOTE: In Japan, サービス業 workers often work weekends and holidays since those are peak customer times. This is a common topic in discussions about work-life balance.