Hekman Library: Business: Explore Industry Codes

What are Industry Codes?

Industry Codes are used in business to standardize economic data and are very important in financial reporting. Here are some you may need to know:

NAICS - North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), used by Federal statistical agencies in "classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy" (U.S. Census Bureau).

SIC - Standard Industrial Classification (SIC), used by some registries, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), instead of NAICS

NTEE - National Taxonomy of Exempt Entitities (NTEE), specifically classifies non-profit organizations

Finding an NAICS Code

NAICS Locator
Use this government website to search for industry codes by keyword.
NAICS Print Reference
Stop by the library's reference desk and view the print index of NAICS codes.

Finding an SIC Code

Standard Industrial Classification Codes
Use this government website to view industry codes, or use the "SIC search" button to search by keyword.
EDGAR: SEC Filings
All U.S. companies are required by law to file forms with the SEC. Searchable to SIC code or company name, this information is publicly available and includes financial performance, acquisitions, and major business initiatives.

Finding an NTEE Code

NTEE Code List
Use this site to search for NTEE codes and their definitions. Many of the code descriptions will match NAICS codes (you'll have to do the checking), which will be handy in some database searches.