Industry Classifications

How the Census categorizes industries and what each group includes

The industry table on each district page groups employed residents into 13 broad categories (20 including sub-categories) based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Because these categories are broad, a single group can include many different kinds of employers — for example, “Retail Trade” covers grocery stores, pharmacies, car dealerships, and clothing stores alike.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Mining

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting

Category Includes
Crop production Grain farming, vegetable and fruit growing, greenhouse and nursery operations, tobacco and cotton farming
Animal production & aquaculture Cattle ranching, hog and poultry farming, sheep and goat farming, aquaculture and fish farming
Forestry & logging Timber harvesting, logging camps, forest nurseries, Christmas tree growing
Fishing, hunting & trapping Commercial fishing, shellfish harvesting, hunting and trapping
Agricultural support Soil preparation, crop services, postharvest activities, farm labor contracting, landscape services

Mining, Quarrying & Oil and Gas Extraction

Category Includes
Oil & gas extraction Crude petroleum extraction, natural gas extraction, oil and gas field services
Mining & quarrying Coal mining, iron ore mining, copper and gold mining, stone quarrying, sand and gravel mining, clay mining
Support activities Drilling oil and gas wells, well servicing, geophysical surveying

Construction

Category Includes
Building construction Single-family and multifamily home builders, commercial and industrial building construction
Heavy & civil engineering Highway and street construction, utility system construction, land subdivision, bridge and tunnel construction
Specialty trade contractors Electrical contractors, plumbing and HVAC contractors, structural steel and concrete work, roofing and siding, painting, flooring, drywall, masonry, glass installation, landscaping and excavation

Manufacturing

Category Includes
Food, beverage & tobacco Grain milling, sugar and confectionery, meat and poultry processing, dairy products, bakeries, breweries and wineries, soft drink bottling, tobacco products
Textile, apparel & leather Yarn and fabric mills, apparel manufacturing, leather goods and footwear
Wood, paper & printing Sawmills, wood products, pulp and paper mills, paperboard containers, printing and related support
Petroleum, chemicals & plastics Petroleum refining, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, paint and coatings, soap and cleaning products, plastics and rubber products
Stone, glass & metals Cement and concrete, glass products, iron and steel mills, aluminum and copper products, fabricated metal products (cutlery, hardware, springs, valves)
Machinery & electronics Industrial machinery, HVAC and refrigeration equipment, computers and peripheral equipment, semiconductors, audio/video and communications equipment, medical instruments, lighting equipment
Transportation equipment Motor vehicles and parts, aerospace products, railroad rolling stock, ships and boats
Furniture & miscellaneous Furniture and related products, sporting goods, toys, medical supplies, jewelry, musical instruments

Wholesale Trade

Category Includes
Durable goods Motor vehicle parts and supplies, professional equipment, hardware and plumbing supplies, machinery and industrial equipment, computers and electronics sold wholesale
Nondurable goods Food and beverage wholesalers, pharmaceutical wholesalers, apparel and fabric wholesalers, petroleum bulk dealers, paper and office supplies wholesalers
Electronic markets & agents Business-to-business electronic commerce, merchandise agents and brokers

Retail Trade

Category Includes
Motor vehicle & parts dealers New and used car dealers, auto parts stores, tire dealers, motorcycle and boat dealers
Food & beverage stores Supermarkets and grocery stores, convenience stores, specialty food shops, beer, wine and liquor stores
General merchandise Department stores, warehouse clubs, supercenters, dollar stores
Health & personal care Pharmacies and drug stores, optical goods retailers, cosmetics and beauty supply
Clothing & accessories Clothing stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores, luggage stores
Electronics & appliances Consumer electronics retailers, appliance stores, computer stores
Home & garden Furniture and home furnishings stores, floor covering, hardware stores, garden centers, home improvement stores
Gasoline stations Gas stations with or without convenience stores
Miscellaneous Book and music stores, sporting goods, hobby stores, florists, office supply stores, pet stores, gift shops, thrift stores
Nonstore retailers Electronic shopping and mail-order, vending machine operators, direct selling

Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities

Transportation & Warehousing

Category Includes
Truck transportation Local and long-distance trucking, specialized freight
Transit & ground transportation Urban transit systems, bus lines, school and employee bus services, taxi and rideshare services, limousines
Air, rail & water Airlines, air freight, railroads and rail transit, water transportation, ferries
Pipeline & scenic Pipeline transportation of crude oil, natural gas, and refined products; scenic and sightseeing transportation
Support activities Air traffic control, port and harbor operations, freight transportation arrangement, packing and crating
Couriers & messengers Parcel delivery services, local messengers
Warehousing & storage General warehousing, refrigerated warehousing, farm product storage

Utilities

Category Includes
Electric power Electric power generation (including solar, wind, nuclear, and fossil fuel plants), transmission, and distribution
Natural gas & water Natural gas distribution, water supply and treatment, sewage systems, steam and air-conditioning supply
Waste management Solid waste collection, hazardous waste treatment, remediation services

Information

Category Includes
Publishing Newspaper and magazine publishing, book publishers, software publishers
Broadcasting & telecommunications Radio and television broadcasting, cable and satellite programming, wired and wireless telecommunications, internet service providers, data processing and hosting
Motion picture & sound Film and video production and distribution, sound recording studios, post-production
Libraries & data services Libraries and archives, web search portals, data processing and hosting

Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

Finance & Insurance

Category Includes
Banking & credit Commercial banks, savings institutions, credit unions, mortgage companies, consumer lending
Securities & investments Investment banks, securities brokerages, investment advisors, portfolio management, commodity contracts trading
Insurance Life and health insurance carriers, property and casualty insurance, reinsurance, insurance agencies and brokerages
Funds & trusts Pension funds, open-end investment funds, trusts, estates and agency accounts

Real Estate & Rental and Leasing

Category Includes
Real estate Property lessors, real estate agents and brokers, property managers, appraisers, title offices
Rental & leasing Car rental, truck rental, equipment rental (heavy machinery, consumer goods), formal wear and costume rental

Professional, Scientific & Management Services

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services

Category Includes
Legal services Law offices, title abstract and settlement offices, paralegal and legal support services
Accounting & consulting Accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll services, management consulting, environmental consulting
Architecture & engineering Architectural firms, civil engineering, geophysical surveying, drafting, building inspection, testing laboratories
Research & development Physical and engineering research, life sciences research, social science research
Advertising & marketing Advertising agencies, public relations firms, market research, media buying agencies, direct mail advertising
Specialized services Computer systems design, custom software development, IT consulting, photography, translation and interpretation, veterinary services

Management of Companies & Enterprises

Category Includes
Corporate headquarters Holding companies, central administrative offices that manage and oversee subsidiary companies

Administrative, Support & Waste Management Services

Category Includes
Office administration Office administrative services, facilities support services, business support services (mailing, document copying)
Employment services Employment placement agencies, temporary staffing firms, professional employer organizations
Business support Document preparation, telephone call centers, collection agencies, credit bureaus, court reporting
Building services Exterminating and pest control, janitorial services, landscaping services, carpet and upholstery cleaning
Waste collection & remediation Solid waste collection, hazardous material removal, septic tank pumping, materials recovery facilities

Education, Health Care & Social Assistance

Educational Services

Category Includes
Elementary & secondary schools Public and private K–12 schools, charter schools
Colleges & universities Community colleges, four-year colleges and universities, professional schools (law, medicine, business)
Other educational services Vocational schools, technical and trade schools, computer training, language schools, exam preparation, tutoring, fine arts schools, sports instruction

Health Care & Social Assistance

Category Includes
Hospitals General medical and surgical hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, specialty hospitals (cancer centers, children’s hospitals)
Ambulatory health care Physician offices, dentist offices, chiropractors, optometrists, mental health practitioners, physical therapists, outpatient care centers, diagnostic imaging centers
Nursing & residential care Nursing care facilities, assisted living, residential intellectual disability facilities, substance abuse residential treatment, group homes
Social assistance Individual and family services, community food and housing services, emergency relief, vocational rehabilitation, child day care

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation & Food Services

Arts, Entertainment & Recreation

Category Includes
Performing arts & spectator sports Theater companies, dance companies, musical groups and artists, professional sports teams and clubs, racetracks
Museums & parks Museums, art galleries, historical sites, zoos and botanical gardens, nature parks
Amusements & recreation Amusement parks, arcades, casinos, golf courses, skiing facilities, bowling alleys, fitness and recreation centers, sports instruction

Accommodation & Food Services

Category Includes
Accommodation Hotels and motels, casino hotels, bed and breakfast inns, rooming and boarding houses, RV parks and campgrounds
Food services & drinking places Full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants (fast food, fast casual), cafeterias and buffets, bars and taverns, food trucks, catering companies, snack bars

Other Services

Category Includes
Repair & maintenance Automotive repair and maintenance, electronic and precision equipment repair, commercial equipment repair, clothing and footwear repair, home appliance repair
Personal & laundry services Hair salons and barbershops, nail salons, diet and weight loss centers, funeral homes and crematories, coin-operated laundries, dry cleaning, tailors, tattoo parlors, pet care
Religious, civic & professional Religious organizations (churches, mosques, temples), labor unions, political organizations, business associations, professional and trade associations, homeowners associations, advocacy organizations
Private households Private households employing domestic workers — housekeepers, cooks, gardeners, childcare workers employed directly by families

Public Administration

Category Includes
Executive, legislative & judicial Federal, state, and local executive offices; legislative bodies; courts; correctional institutions; public order and safety activities
Finance & administration Public finance activities (tax collection, licensing), central support agencies, general government administration
Human services Administration of economic programs, housing, urban planning, community development, veterans affairs, social assistance programs
National security & international Military, Coast Guard, space research, international affairs and foreign aid

For the full North American Industry Classification System, see the Census Bureau NAICS page.