SIC & NAICS Codes - ELT111 - Finding Potential Employers in Electronics - LibraryGuides at Chemeketa Community College

Finding SIC or NAICS Codes

Many business directories have a look-up feature or cheat sheet that lets you find a code that will represent the type of business you're looking for. Here are some other places to search by key words to find an appropriate code:

Look Up NAICS Codes
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS, pronounced nakes) was developed under the direction and guidance of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the standard for use by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the collection, tabulation, presentation, and analysis of statistical data describing the U.S. economy. Use of the standard provides uniformity and comparability in the presentation of these statistical data. NAICS is based on a production-oriented concept, meaning that it groups establishments into industries according to similarity in the processes used to produce goods or services. NAICS replaced the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in 1997.
From Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems
Look Up SIC Codes
What Is a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC Code)?
The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) are four-digit codes that categorize the industries that companies belong to while organizing the industries by their business activities. The SIC codes were created by the U.S. government in 1937 to help analyze economic activity across various industries and government agencies.
From What Is a SIC Code, Who Needs a SIC Code, and How To Find Yours

What Kind of Company Is It?

The kind of company may be a factor in whether you find it in a given directory.

A public company is one that sells stock on the open market
It is relatively easy to find detailed information about U.S. public companies, because they are required to register with and report to the Securities and Exchange Commission; their stock prices are reported daily
Small, local companies are usually private
A large company may be either private or public
Some large companies are private, e.g., Levi Strauss & Co.
Private companies are not required to disclose financials and other information

If you do not find a large company in a directory, it may be private; many directories include only public companies. Another possibility is that the company you are looking for is a subsidiary, or smaller branch, of a larger company.

Getting Reference Help

E-mail a Question to Reference
Phone Reference at 503.399.5231
Chat reference: Please use the form below
We recommend that you include an e-mail address so that you can receive a transcript of your chat and so the library can send you any followup help.

ELT111 - Finding Potential Employers in Electronics: SIC & NAICS Codes

Before You Start

Finding SIC or NAICS Codes

What Kind of Company Is It?

Getting Reference Help