Industry Classification Codes

Jason SokoloffJMU Business Librarian

May 2008

Industry classification codes

• What they are• How they look• How to find them• How to use them

What are classification codes?

Some everyday examples…

Telephone area codesTelephone area codes

Source: USNaviguide.com

Postal ZIP codesPostal ZIP codes

Source: USNaviguide.com

Library Call NumbersLibrary Call Numbers

What are industryclassification codes?

SIC and NAICS codes

What is SIC?

• Standard Industrial Classification• 4-digit codes

AP Image database available through JMU Libraries

Source: Associated PressSource: Associated PressSuzanne PlunkettSuzanne Plunkett

SIC 5812Eating Places

Source: Associated PressSource: Associated Press / Stephen J. Carrera

SIC 5399 Miscellaneous General Merchandise Stores

Source: Library of Congress American Memoryhttp://memory.loc.gov

Source: Associated Press / Toby Talbot AP Image database available through JMU Libraries

What is NAICS?

• North American Industrial Classification System

• 6-digit codes

NAICS 722213Snack & Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars

Source: Associated Press / H. Malla Source: Associated Press / Stephan Savoia

NAICS 452910Warehouse Clubs & Supercenters

Source: Associated Press / Danny Johnston Source: Associated Press / Ted S. Warren

NAICS 454112Electronic Auctions

Campground

SIC Web site

http://www.osha.gov/pls/imis/sicsearch.html

NAICS Web site

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html

Use codes to research

• Enter codes in library databases• Look up codes in reference books

FinancialsFinancials

Source:Almanac of Business andIndustry Financial Ratios

Other Resources

Questions?

Jason SokoloffBusiness Librariansokolojk@jmu.edu