EN
The quality of the service sector is one of the indicators of socio-economic development. In developed countries, the sphere of services has a long history and the sector’s share in the GDP is significant (over 60%). The growing role of services, and the phenomenon of servitisation of the economy, is particularly visible in the sectoral approach to economic analysis. In the years 1995-2005, the proportion of persons employed in the third sector (services) increased by approx. 4%, with the highest growth being recorded in South America and South-East Asia. Also in Podlaskie Voivodeship, services play a crucial role in the process of socio-economic development. This is especially true about such sectors as trade, transport, tourism and finance, the last three having the greatest potential for improvement. The aim of the paper is to discuss the performance of the service sector in Podlaskie Voivodeship in the years 1990-2008.