An increasingly ubiquitous term in economic and business discourse, the ‘Service Economy’ holds various meanings depending on the orientation and interest of its user. Different meanings are considered by reviewing the nature and role of the Service Economy, how its role has evolved over time and its impacts in economic, international, organisational and social, realms. While developed economies have increasingly devoted more output and workers to the sector the extent to which fundamental economic restructuring has occurred is examined. The entry focuses on features of the contemporary economic and organisational landscapes, highlighted by Services, and on forces of change affecting both.