What are NAICS or ISIC codes?

Industry Codes

The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) and the International Standard of Industrial Classification (ISIC) codes are six-digit numbers used to group businesses by their primary economic activity. They can be used to easily search for companies within a certain industry using databases like IBIS World or Mergent Intellect. Classification codes are also useful for looking up reports on specific industries.

NAICS codes are primarily used in North America, and they are closely compatible with ISIC codes developed by the U.N. Note that the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system was the official industry classification system for the United States until it was replaced by the NAICS in 1997. However, some websites and government agencies, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, still use SIC codes.

For more detailed information on NAICS codes you can visit the NAICS Association website and browse their FAQ page.

If you have further questions, come to the Social Sciences Help Desk on Level 1 or contact the BYU business librarians.

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Updated 2024-06-28 12:11:20 • LibAnswers page