The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS)
The classification system used by both Canada and the US is called the North American Industrial Classification System, or NAICS. All types of industries are included in NAICS, and the classification system is periodically revised and its definitions updated to capture changes in economic activity. For example, the classification system must be revised when new industries emerge, or the nature of the work that's done by an industry changes significantly.The guidelines for classifying industries under NAICS were finalized in 1997 and some modifications (mainly to the classification of broadcasting & telecommunications) were made in 2002 and 2007.
Establishments are classified to a single industry based on their main activity. For example, offices of architects are included in the professional, scientific & technical services industry. However, if a construction company has an architect on staff, the value of the architect's work would be included in the output of the construction industry The major activity of the establishment in question is construction, not professional, scientific & technical services.
NAICS is hierarchical, with industries classified into broad groupings which are then broken down into sub-categories. The number of digits in a NAICS code indicates the level of disaggregation: two-digit codes are for broader groupings of industries than three-digit codes, and so on. A brief summary of the definitions for the industry groups follows.
11 |
Agriculture, forestry, fishing &
hunting Agriculture |
|
|
111 |
Crop production |
|
|
112 |
Animal production |
|
|
1151 |
Support activities for crop production |
|
|
1152 |
Support activities for animal production |
|
Forestry & logging: |
|
|
113 |
Forestry & logging |
|
|
1153 |
Support activities for forestry & logging |
|
114 |
Fishing, hunting & trapping |
21 |
Mining &
oil & gas extraction |
23 |
Construction |
31-33 |
Manufacturing |
41 |
Wholesale
trade |
44-45 |
Retail trade |
48-49 |
Transportation
& warehousing |
Information, culture & recreation
|
51 |
Information & cultural industries |
71 |
Arts, entertainment & recreation |
Finance, insurance, real estate & leasing |
52 |
Finance & insurance |
53 |
Real estate & rental & leasing |
54 |
Professional, scientific & technical services |
Business, building & other support services |
55 |
Management of
companies & enterprises |
56 |
Administration, support, waste management & remediation
services |
61 |
Educational
services |
62 |
Health care
& social assistance |
72 |
Accommodation
& food services |
81 |
Other
services |
91 |
Public
administration |
|