Industry Codes

What is an SIC code?
A SIC code, or Standard Industrial Classification code, is a four-digit number assigned by the government to various distinct business industries. Its purpose is to numerically represent the entire field of economic activities: agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and trapping; mining; construction; manufacturing; transportation, communications, electric, gas, and sanitary services; wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance, and real estate; personal, business, professional, repair, recreation, and other services; and public administration. For instance, SIC Code 5021 represents furniture, 7372 represents pre-packaged software, 8721 represents accounting services, etc.

The SIC code was developed for use in the classification of establishments by type of activity in which they are engaged; for purposes of facilitating the collection, tabulation, presentation, and analysis of data relating to establishments; and for promoting uniformity and comparability in the presentation of statistical data collected by various agencies of the United States Government, State agencies, trade associations, and private research organizations.

The SIC classification system is gradually being replaced by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). This common classification system was created to replace the existing classification of each country in North America.

What is a NAICS code?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the U.S. Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. NAICS will reshape the way we view our changing economy.

NAICS was developed jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in statistics about business activity across North America.

NAICS groups the economy into 20 broad sectors, up from the 10 divisions of the SIC system.

Code	NAICS Sectors
11	Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
21	Mining
22	Utilities
23	Construction
31-33	Manufacturing
42	Wholesale Trade
44-45	Retail Trade
48-49	Transportation and Warehousing
51	Information
52	Finance and Insurance
53	Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
54	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
55	Management of Companies and Enterprises
56	Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
61	Education Services
62	Health Care and Social Assistance
71	Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
72	Accommodation and Food Services
81	Other Services (except Public Administration)
92	Public Administration

Many of the new sectors reflect recognizable parts of SIC divisions, such as the Utilities and Transportation sectors, broken out from the SIC division Transportation, Communications, and Utilities. Similarly, the SIC division for Service Industries has been subdivided to form several new sectors, as shown in the chart below.

Other sectors represent combinations of pieces from more than one SIC division. The new Information sector includes major components from Transportation, Communications, and Utilities (broadcasting and telecommunications), Manufacturing (publishing), and Services Industries (software publishing, data processing, information services, motion picture and sound recording). The Accommodation and Food Services sector puts together hotels and other lodging places from Service Industries and eating and drinking places from Retail Trade.

For more information on NAICS and SIC visit:
U.S. Department of Labor Standard Industrial Classification

U.S. Census Bureau NAICS

Locating Classification Codes - Print Sources
To determine a company's or an industry's classification code start with the following resources:

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Codes
REF HF 1042 A55
Ask at Reference Desk

North American Industrial Classification Code (NAICS)
REF HF 1042 N6
Ask at Reference Desk

Locating Classification Codes - Online Sources

Economic Census
The Economic Census allows you to search for a NAICS code (or SIC) by key word.
For example:

Enter keyword or NAICS code

NAICS Search

When you type in wine, for example, you get:

Index Entry	NAICS Code	U.S. NAICS Title
Wine coolers manufacturing	312130	Wineries
Wine coolers, alcoholic, wholesaling	422820	Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Wholesalers
Wine shops, packaged	445310	Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
Wineries	312130	Wineries
Wines manufacturing	312130	Wineries
Wines wholesaling	422820	Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Wholesalers
Wines, cooking, manufacturing	312130	Wineries

Next, click on the appropriate NAICS code (e.g., 312130) for a statistical report on the specific industry.

Hoover's Online
Type in a company's name and select Search.
Next select the Industry from the left navigation bar - supplies SIC and NAICS codes for products and services for the company.

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