# Review of Content Standard North American Industry Classification System

# (NAICS)

#  May, 2005

1.  This review is intended to assess the potential utility of content
    standards for use and potentially for inclusion in an ISO
    11179-based metadata registry. The review is directed primarily
    toward the utility of the standard itself, rather than to matching
    the standard with specific agency programs. The review covers issues
    such as the subject area, currency, quality, authority, and
    acceptance of the standards. These are factors that need to be taken
    into account no matter what the programmatic application of the
    standard may be.

## 1. Summary

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS pronounced
Nakes) is a system for classifying business establishments.  Adopted in
1997 to replace the old Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system,
it is the industry classification system used by the statistical
agencies of the United States.  It is the first economic classification
system to be constructed based on a single economic concept.

## The NAICS is organized into hierarchical groupings composed of: economic sectors, economic subsectors, industry groups, industries, and national classifications. Definitions for each group are included. The latest published version is NAICS 2002; a new version is planned for 2007. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico jointly developed NAICS to provide comparability in statistics about business activity across North America. Maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, it's widely accepted and used to identify industries in North America.  {#the-naics-is-organized-into-hierarchical-groupings-composed-of-economic-sectors-economic-subsectors-industry-groups-industries-and-national-classifications.-definitions-for-each-group-are-included.-the-latest-published-version-is-naics-2002-a-new-version-is-planned-for-2007.-the-u.s.-canada-and-mexico-jointly-developed-naics-to-provide-comparability-in-statistics-about-business-activity-across-north-america.-maintained-by-the-u.s.-census-bureau-its-widely-accepted-and-used-to-identify-industries-in-north-america. .unnumbered}

## 2. Identification of Standard {#identification-of-standard .unnumbered}

### 2.1. Title

North American Industry Classification System

### 2.2. Acronym

NAICS

### 2.3. Web page(s), Identifier, or Contact Information:

### 2.3.1 Web page(s)

[www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html)

and see below.

### 2.3.2 Identifiers

NTIS identifier for 2002 Hardcover print edition: PB2002-101430

NTIS identifier for 2002 CD-ROM with search and retrieval software:
PB2002-502024

NTIS identifier for 1997 CD-ROM with search and retrieval software:
PB98-502024

### 2.3.3 Contact Information

To order the 1400-page *2002 Manual*, in print, call NTIS at (800)
553-6847 or (703) 605-6000, or check the [NTIS web
site](http://www.ntis.gov/products/bestsellers/naics.asp?loc=4-2-0). The
1250-page *1997 Manual*, showing correspondence between 1997 NAICS and
1987 SIC, is also available. The 2002 and 1997 versions of NAICS are
available on CD-ROMs, which can be ordered at NTIS.

Also available at this site are lists of [2002 NAICS
codes](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naicod02.htm) (with links to
definitions), [1997 NAICS
codes](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics/naicscod.txt), tables showing
[correspondence between NAICS 97 and
SIC](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicstab.htm), tables showing
[correspondence between NAICS 97 and NAICS
02](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/), and other files for
[downloading](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicstab.htm#download).\
 

A summary of [NAICS supporting
documents](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicsdoc.htm) cites Federal
Register Notices, issues papers, and other reports about NAICS.

###  {#section .unnumbered}

### 2.4 Authority

**2.4.1 Creator**

NAICS was developed in cooperation with the [US Economic Classification
Policy Committee](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicsdoc.htm#ECPC),
[Statistics
Canada](http://www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/industry.htm), and
Mexico\'s [Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Geografia e
Informatica](http://www.inegi.gob.mx/).

**US Economic Classification Policy Committee (ECPC)**

[Bureau of Economic Analysis](http://www.bea.doc.gov/)\
[Bureau of Labor Statistics](http://stats.bls.gov/)\
[Census Bureau](http://www.census.gov/)\
[Office of Management and Budget](http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/)

**Other Participating Agencies**

[US Department of Agriculture](http://www.usda.gov/)\
[Bureau of Transportation Statistics](http://www.bts.gov/)\
[Energy Information Administration](http://www.eia.doe.gov/)\
[Federal Emergency Management Administration](http://www.fema.gov/)\
[Federal Reserve Board](http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/)\
[Internal Revenue Service](http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/)\
[International Trade Administration](http://www.ita.doc.gov/)\
[International Trade Commission](http://www.usitc.gov/)\
[Social Security Administration](http://www.ssa.gov/)

**2.4.2. Acceptance as authoritative**

Very well accepted.

### 2.5 Publisher

U.S. Government, print and CD-ROM copies available through NTIS,
searchable on the Census site.

### 2.6 Language(s)

### English

###  3. Content description

### 3.1 Subject area of content and area of application

Lists and classifies industry.

### 3.2 Kind of content

NAICS industries are identified by a 6-digit code, in contrast to the
4-digit SIC code. The longer code accommodates the larger number of
sectors and allows more flexibility in designating subsectors. It also
provides for additional detail not necessarily appropriate for all three
NAICS countries. The international NAICS agreement fixes only the first
five digits of the code. The sixth digit, where used, identifies
subdivisions of NAICS industries that accommodate user needs in
individual countries. Thus, 6-digit U.S. codes may differ from
counterparts in Canada or Mexico, but at the 5-digit level they are
standardized.

**Examples of NAICS Hierarchy**

  ----------- ----------- ------------------------- ----------- ---------------------
  **NAICS     **Example                             **Example   
  level**     #1**                                  #2**        

              **NAICS     **Description**           **NAICS     **Description**
              code**                                code**      

  Sector      31-33       Manufacturing             51          Information

  Subsector   334         Computer and electronic   513         Broadcasting and
                          product manufacturing                 telecommunications

  Industry    3346        Manufacturing and         5133        Telecommunications
  group                   reproduction of magnetic              
                          and optical media                     

  Industry    33461       Manufacturing and         51332       Wireless
                          reproduction of magnetic              telecommunications
                          and optical media                     carriers, except
                                                                satellite

  U.S.        334611      Reproduction of software  513321      Paging
  Industry                                                      
  ----------- ----------- ------------------------- ----------- ---------------------

### Major Classifications:

-   Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

-   Mining

-   Utilities

-   Construction

-   Manufacturing

-   Wholesale Trade

-   Retail Trade

-   Transportation and Warehousing

-   Information

-   Finance and Insurance

-   Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

-   Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

-   Management of Companies and Enterprises

-   Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation
    Services

-   Educational Services

-   Health Care and Social Assistance

-   Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

-   Accommodation and Food Services

-   Other Services (except Public Administration)

-   Public Administration

### 3.3 Audience(s)

Anyone concerned with surveys targeting industrial occupations or areas
of concentration. Some public uses include:

**Finding data (payroll, establishment, sales receipts, etc.) for a
specific NAICS industry:**

Data can be obtained for a specific NAICS industry by going to the 1997
Economic Census website, <http://www.census.gov/epcd/ec97/us/US000.HTM>.
 This website provides data at the sector level.  One may also click on
the down arrow, under the heading \"More data\", and get data at the
subsector and industry levels.  One may also get data by state, or
selected metro area by using the pull-down menus in the upper right hand
corner of the page.

Economic census data is available from the American Fact Finder website:
[http://factfinder.census.gov](http://factfinder.census.gov/) , under
the Economic Census tab.  One can obtain a quick report by either
industry or geography by clicking on the links listed.  

Beginning with the 1998 data year, the annual County Business Patterns
reports provide employment, payroll, or number of establishments (but
not sales/receipts).  The CBP data can be found at
<http://www.census.gov/epcd/cbp/view/cbpview.html> .

Census, BLS, Small Business Administration, Bureau of Economic Analysis,
IRS, all use surveys based on NAICS.

### 3.4 Related Standards

Standard Industrial Classification of Establishments is a smaller, older
collection of industry codes. The Census site provides correspondence
tables for NAICS and SIC codes. A new [North American Product
Classification System](http://www.census.gov/eos/www/napcs/napcs.htm)
(NAPCS) is presently under development, with initial focus on products
of [service industries](http://www.census.gov/eos/www/napcs/napcs.htm).

**3.5 Standards Dependencies**

None.

**3.6 Content Quality**

This standard is considered to be the major authority for classification
of industry.

### 4. Currency of Content

### 4.1 Date

2002

### 4.2 Versions, Updates

### The previous version was published in 1997. [**NAICS 2002**](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/) includes substantial revisions within the Construction and Wholesale Trade sectors, and a number of revisions for the Retail and Information sectors. NAICS 2002 was implemented in the [**2002 Economic Census**](http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/econ2002.html).

### 4.3 Currency

The next version is expected in 2007.

**5. Acceptance**

This standard is in wide usage in North America.

### 

### 6. Content details

### 6.1 Size statistics (estimated)

See below

### 6.2 Format / Schemas(s)

Various formats are available. See below

### 6.3 Media / Download

  --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------
  **2002 NAICS United States Structure**                                                                

  Code list, full hierarchy, 2- through   [Drill down                                                   [ASCII](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naicod02.txt)
  6- digits                               hypertext](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naicod02.htm)   (103kb)

  Code list, 6-digit codes only           [Drill down                                                   [ASCII](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naico602.txt)
                                          hypertext](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naico602.htm)   (54kb)
  --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------

 

  ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --
  **Correspondence                                                                      Drill down         Downloadable Spreadsheets                                                                                                            
  Tables**:                                                                             hypertext                                                                                                                                               

  Table 1            [2002 NAICS-US Matched to 1997                                                        [xls](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/NAICS97toNAICS02.xls)   [zip](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/NAICS97toNAICS02xls.zip)   
                     NAICS-US](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/N02TON97.HTM)                            (1.3mb)                                                          (129kb)                                                             

  Table 2            [1997 NAICS-US Matched to 2002                                                                                                                                                                                             
                     NAICS-US](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/N97TON02.HTM)                                                                                                                                                                 

  Table 3            [2002 NAICS-US Matched to 1987 Standard Industrial                                    [xls](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/NAICS02toSIC87.xls)     [zip](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/NAICS02toSIC87xls.zip)     
                     Classification](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/N02TOS87.HTM)                      (386kb)                                                          (105kb)                                                             

  Table 4            [1987 Standard Industrial Classification Matched to 2002                                                                                                                                                                   
                     NAICS-US](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/S87TON02.HTM)                                                                                                                                                                 

                     Note 1: Tables 1 and 2 in hypertext include only those industries                                                                                                                                                          
                     with 1997-2002 changes; downloadable spreadsheet includes all                                                                                                                                                              
                     industries.                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  ------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --

  --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------
  **Other Resources:**                                            Drill down hypertext  Downloadable Files                                                 

  [NAICS 2002                                                                           mdb (20mb)\                                                        [zipped
  definitions](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naicod02.htm)                         [txt](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naics02definitions.txt)   mdb](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naics02definitionsmdb.zip)
                                                                                        (1.6mb)                                                            (2.6mb)\
                                                                                                                                                           [zipped
                                                                                                                                                           txt](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naics02definitionstxt.zip)
                                                                                                                                                           (252kb)

  [NAICS 2002/1997 index                                                                [csv](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naics02index.csv) (2.2mb) [zipped csv](http://www.census.gov/epcd/naics02/naics02index.zip)
  entries](http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/epcd/srchnaics02defs)                                                                                             (439kb)
  --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------

NTIS Pricing Information

2002 Hardcover print edition Now Available! (PB2002-101430)\
**Price: \$49** *(Price outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico \$98)*

2002 CD-ROM with search and retrieval software (PB2002-502024)\
**Price: \$60** *(Price outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico \$120)*

1997 Hardcover print edition (PB98-127293)\
**Price**: **\$32.50** *(Price outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico
\$65)*

1997 CD-ROM with search and retrieval software (PB98-502024)\
**Price**: **\$45** *(Price outside the U.S., Canada and Mexico \$90)*

### 6.4 Licensing Issues

None. Freely available for downloading or searching.

### 6.5 Documentation

Extensive documentation can be found at the NAICS Supporting
Documentation site:

www.census.gov/epcd/www/naicsdoc.htm

Send comments or questions about **NAICS** to
[*naics@census.gov*](mailto:naics@census.gov)