Research Guides: Strategic Research: Research an Industry

Industry Classification Systems

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)
The SIC Manual was last revised in 1987. It provides 4-digit numerical codes for identifying industries. It has been replaced by the NAICS, but is still used by some reference sources. The print manual can be found in the Reference sections of these RUL libraries: SMLR, Carr, Alex DOCREF, Dana, Camden.

To go back and forth between SIC and NAICS, use the Correspondence Tables for the 2002 NAICS.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
NAICS was developed by the U.S. government as a system for classifying industries; it is used in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The system consists of 2 - 6 digit numbers that expand in detail as you drill down; the U.S. Economic Census uses 7 and 8 digit expansions. It replaced the SIC in 1997; the latest version is dated 2022.

Rutgers Online and Print Resources

IBISWorld provides reports for all of the 723 industries in the United States as categorized by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). IBISWorld research reports contain trends, statistics and analysis on market size, market share of competitors, and industry growth rates. (Rutgers-restricted access)

Hundreds of industry sectors for major countries around the world are covered by MarketLine (formerly Datamonitor 360) (Rutgers-restricted access)

Hundreds of consumer product and service categories are covered by Mintel Reports (Rutgers-restricted access)

Encyclopedia of American Industries, 5th edition, 2008, has reports on about 1,000 industry sectors as categorized by the Standard Industrial Classification code. (Rutgers-restricted access) [http://bit.ly/9SNR4t]

Encyclopedia of American Industries, 3rd edition, 2004. The 3rd edition is available in print: Vol.1: Manufacturing Industries; Vol.2: Non-manufacturing Industries (CAMDEN, DANA, CARR REF HC 102 .E53)

Encyclopedia of Emerging Industries, 5th edition, 2007. (Rutgers-restricted access) [http://bit.ly/9SNR4t] Also available in print: (CARR REF HD 62.5 .E529 ; DANA Reference Desk)

The Standard & Poor's Industry Surveys (CAMDEN, CARR REF HC 106.6 .S74; DANA Reference Desk) are useful for basic statistics (production, shipment, sales, revenues) for large industry groups but not for all products.

The monthly Standard & Poor's Statistical Service (DANA Business Reference; CARR Reference Desk) provides selected current and historical statistics on 12 industries.

Mergent Online has lengthy reports on 39 major industry sectors for four primary regions of the world. (Rutgers-restricted access)

More industry sectors are covered by Value Line and Value Line Historical Reports (Rutgers-restricted access) (previously available in print: Value Line Investment Survey (CAMDEN REF HG 4501 .V2; DANA, CARR Reference Desk)) but the overviews are shorter.

Online Industry Sources

Industry Research (JobStar)