Industry and Occupation

U.S. Department of Commerce

Overview

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INDEXES

The Alphabetical Indexes of Industries and Occupations were developed primarily for use in classifying a respondent's industry (employer's type of business) and occupation (employee's type of work) as reported in the Census 2000, the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, and other demographic surveys conducted by the Census Bureau.

The Census 2000 Alphabetical Indexes list over 21,000 industry and 31,000 occupation titles in alphabetical order. They are comprehensive lists of specific industries and occupations developed over time and continuously updated through review of census and survey responses.

Each title has been assigned a pair of numeric codes. One of these codes is the 3-digit number used for processing the Census 2000 responses ("Census Occupation/Industry Code"). The other is the 6-digit federal standard code (see "Classification Systems" below). Coding specialists assign these codes to census or survey responses containing industries and occupations to sort these responses into appropriate industry and occupation classification categories. A listing of the categories and corresponding codes in the industry and occupation classification systems is shown on this website. The category name for any listing can be identified by matching the title's code to the listing of categories. To help the Index user understand how the titles fit into the classification structure, the titles appearing in the Alphabetical Indexes are regrouped by category in the Classified Indexes of Industries and Occupations.

Coverage

The basic content of each Census 2000 Index is derived largely from previous editions. However, many new titles were added to each of the industry and occupation listings and some obsolete titles have been deleted. Many of the original occupation titles came from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration; these were updated during the revision of the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC).

The indexes list industry and occupation titles reported in earlier censuses and surveys, including titles used often in the economy. However, some titles were not listed because they are too new to be included in the indexes, or they are rarely used.

Classification Systems

The purpose of the classification systems used in these indexes is to organize and to make understandable the many thousands of industries and occupations. These systems group titles describing like industries or like occupations into homogeneous categories and assign a code to each category. Both Alphabetical Indexes identify each title by the code of the category to which it is assigned. All Classified Indexes accumulate all the titles assigned to each category and thereby define each category in the Census Bureau classification systems.

Industry Classification

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), prepared by the Office of Management and Budget and published in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual ¹, is the standard for industrial classification systems in the U.S. government. The Census 2000 industrial classification system was developed using the structure of the NAICS. The census system consists of 265 categories arranged into 20 sectors. The sectors are exactly the same as those found in the NAICS. The census industry codes, which are distinct numbers from those used as occupation codes, usually end with digits 7, 8, or 9. However, some industry codes end with a 6. The presentation of the census system in this website shows the equivalent NAICS code(s) for each census category.
¹North American Industry Classification System Manual: United States, 1997. U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Lanham, MD: Bernan Press.

Occupation Classification

The census occupational classification system was developed to be consistent with the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: 2000 ². It has 509 separate categories arranged into the 23 major groups of the SOC. For occupations in the census system, the numeric codes always end with digits 0 through 6.
(NOTE: No industry and occupation codes are the same.)

²Standard Occupational Classification Manual: 2000. U.S. Office of Management and Budget. Lanham, MD: Bernan Press; and Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service. Also see U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website: http://www.bls.gov/soc/

Comparability

Both the industrial and occupational classification systems for Census 2000 were changed compared to the ones used for the 1990 Census. The international policy committee that designed the NAICS set out to create a new classification system rather than simply revise the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) used prior to 1997. The NAICS expanded the SIC to include industries in Canada and Mexico with those in the United States, and changed the numbering scheme from a 4-digit to a 6-digit system. In spite of these changes, the structure of the 1997 NAICS is not drastically different from the structure of the Standard Industrial Classification for most NAICS sectors. Therefore, the tracking of the 1990 Census (which was based on the SIC) to the Census 2000 industry classification (which is based on the NAICS) through the two standards is fairly straightforward. The federal interagency SOC Revision Policy Committee (SOCRPC) decided similarly to rearrange the entire structure of the standard occupational classification rather than to start with the old SOC and simply try to make improvements. Unlike the NAICS, however, their end result was truly a major change. Analysis of occupational data across time will, as a consequence, be much more challenging.

Format

This website provides one Alphabetical Index and two Classified Indexes for industries and the same number of indexes for occupations. Within the alphabetical indexes the individual industries and occupations are listed in alphabetical order and many of them are cross-indexed. The first set of classified indexes arranges the same industries and occupations into each category used for the Census 2000 coding. The second set of classified indexes arranges the industries and occupations into the federal standard classifications, that is, the NAICS for industries, and the SOC for occupations. In other words, both sets of classified indexes display the titles "associated with" each industry and occupation category for the census and the federal standard systems.

Alphabetization

The titles listed in the indexes are arranged alphabetically following the word system used in telephone directories and encyclopedias. The order of the titles is based on the alphabetical order of one word at a time. This is in contrast to the alphabetic letter system used in dictionaries where the first and second words, if any, are treated as one word. Following are examples of alphabetization within the two systems:

Census Bureau Word System Dictionary Letter System

Art dealer (ret.) Art dealer (ret.)

Art exhibits Artesian wells (const.)

Art institute Art exhibits

Artesian wells (const.) Artichokes, bottled (mfg.)

Artichokes, bottled (mfg.) Art institute

Cross-indexing

Most titles in the indexes contain two or more words. To facilitate coding, many of the multiword titles are listed in all possible orders. However, some multiword titles are listed only once as part of a "run," i.e., a succession of listings beginning with a common word. Below are examples from one of the industry runs:

Advertising, Aerial
Advertising, Agency
Advertising, Billboard
Advertising, Company
Advertising, Copy writers of
For industry, there are eight common words designated as "prime words" because they are used frequently. These prime words form the longest industry runs. Industry titles containing these prime words are usually listed only once under the prime word, but there are exceptions. For example, the title State Department will not be found under Department of State; however, Auto Muffler will be found under Mufflers, Auto.

The prime words "United States," "State," and "City" are industry runs that simplify the coding of government agencies and government-run industries.
The prime words are:

Auto Rental State

City Repair US (United States)

Electric Self Employed

For occupation, there are 13 frequently used words designated as "keywords." These keywords form the primary occupation runs. Occupation titles containing these keywords are listed only once under the keyword. For example, the title "auto mechanic" will not be found under "Auto," but only under "Mechanic." The keywords are:

Apprentice Inspector Supervisor

Assembler Manager Teacher

Assistant Mechanic Technician

Engineer Repairer

Helper Sales

Other multiword industry and occupation titles may be listed only once. For example, the title "Frozen dinners, packaged (mfg.)," is not listed again as "Packaged frozen dinners (mfg.)." If coders cannot find a particular order of words in the index, they should try other words that have similar meanings before deciding that the title is not listed.

USE OF THE INDEXES IN CODING

General Description

Always use the alphabetical indexes first instead of the classified indexes for coding responses from surveys and other forms.

The Alphabetical Index of Industries is divided into sections from A to Z. To move from one alphabetical section to another while on the website, click on the appropriate letter shown across the top of the first page for each section. In all the sections the first column shows each industry title, followed by columns providing the appropriate NAICS and Census industry codes. The Industry Index has a separate section for "Self employed with occ." (Occupation). These lines provide occupation codes in addition to the industry codes.

The Alphabetical Index of Occupations is also divided into sections from A to Z. To move from one alphabetical section to another, click on the appropriate letter shown across the top of the first page for each section. However, the Occupation Index provides more information: the occupation title, NAICS industry restrictions (if appropriate), the SOC code, Census 2000 industry restrictions (if appropriate), and the Census 2000 occupation code, each in separate columns.

All the examples shown below describe how to code to the Census 2000 classifications. The same instructions, however, can be used to assign codes to the NAICS and SOC.

Industry Titles

Industry titles are listed in several ways:

Typical (Simple) Industry entry:

Dry cleaning ..........................................................907

Assign code 907 to a response of "Dry cleaning."

Abbreviations following industry titles - The following abbreviations are used with certain industry titles and are considered an essential part of the title:

(Const.) - for such words as construction, building, excavating, etc. (associated with industry code 077)

(Ext.) - for such words as extracting, mining, mine, well, quarry, etc. (associated with industry codes 037 - 049)

(Mfg.) - for such words as manufacturing, factory, mill, plant, etc. (associated with industry codes 107 �399)

(Ret.) - for such words as retailing, retail store, retail shop, etc. (associated with industry codes 467-579)

(Whsl.) - for such words as wholesaling, wholesale company, wholesale store, etc. (associated with industry codes 407 - 459)

For example:
Acetylene gas (mfg.) ..............................................................229
Acetylene gas (whsl.) .............................................................438

In this example, assign code 229 to such entries as "acetylene gas factory" and "acetylene gas plant." Assign code 438 to such entries as "wholesalers acetylene gas company" and "acetylene gas wholesaling."

"Any not listed" and "exc�" � These words appear in residual lines, usually the line following a list of specific industry titles.

The phrase "Any not listed" covers either specified or unspecified kinds of industries not shown in the preceding entries. For example:

Garage, construction equipment ...............................................887
Garage, farm equipment ...........................................................887
Garage, parking .......................................................................909
Garage \ any not listed ..............................................................877

In this example assign code 877 to an entry like "Auto service garage," which does not fit any of the preceding types of garages listed.

The abbreviation "exc." (except) covers all cases except the related entries preceding or following it.
For example:
Mattress covers, exc. rubber (mfg.) ..........................................159
Mattress covers, rubber (mfg.) ..................................................239

In this example assign code 159 for mattress cover manufacturing other than rubber.

Self-employed, own account, etc � Some respondents in business for themselves return entries of "self-employed," "own business," "own practice," and the like without any description of the type of business. For many of these cases, the industry is determined from the occupation. The industry list includes a series of lines for "Self-employed, with occupation," which includes various occupations of self-employed individuals. In this list, the occupation code is shown as well as the industry code. The first code is the industry code and the second is the occupation code. For example:
Self employed with occ. Abstracter ............................................727.......215

Assign industry code 727 and occupation code 215 for a "self-employed abstracter." In this example, it is not necessary to refer to the occupation index, because both the industry and occupation codes are provided in the industry index.

Occupation Titles

Occupation titles are listed in several ways:

Occupation titles and no relationships:

Ticket writer .................................................................................593

Assign code 593 to "ticket writer," regardless of other entries.

Occupation titles with activities or other descriptions:

Painter, house or other buildings ....................................................642
Painter, landscape .........................................................................260

Assign code 642 when an entry says "painter" or "housepainter" for kind of work and the most important activity is "painting houses". A landscape painter is coded 260.

Education level � Some titles that are used by people in two or more different occupations are best classified by referring to the person's educational attainment. For example:

Accounting work, associate degree or higher ......................................080
Accounting work (exc. accountant), less than associate degree ...........512

Persons who report the activity "accounting work" but do not report whether they are an accountant or bookkeeper are classified according to their educational level.

Occupation titles with industry and/or class of worker relationships:

Titles with one industry code:

Letter carrier ...........................................................................637 ...............555

Assign code 555 to an entry of "letter carrier" only when the industry code is "637."

Titles with a range of industry codes:

Shell worker .........................................................................147-167 ...........846

Assign code 846 to an entry of "Shell worker" if the industry code is 149, because code 149 falls within the range 147-167.

Titles with several industry codes:

Knife setter .....................................................................128, 139, 187 .........735

Assign code 735 to an entry of "knife setter" only if the industry code is 128, 139, or 187.

Titles with an industry description:

Field reporter ...................American Automobile Association 917 ...................202

Assign code 202 to an entry of "field reporter" only if the industry entry is "American Automobile Association," which would be coded 917.

Titles with a residual relationship:

Mail carrier ......................Any not listed .................................551

Assign code 551 to an entry of "mail carrier" when none of the other listed industries applies or when the industry question was not answered. Examples of other entries designating residual industry and/or class of worker relationships are: "Mfg., not listed," (Manufacturing, not listed), "exc�," (except other listed entries), and "Mfg., exc�," (Manufacturing, except other listed entries).

Titles with class of worker and industry relationships:

Digger ..............................GOV or PR 017, 029 ..................605

Assign code 605 to an entry of "digger" only when the class of worker entry is either "government" or "private" and the industry code is either 017 or 029. Both conditions must be met. Class of worker abbreviations are identified under class of worker below.

Titles with "n. s." and with industry restrictions:
Laborer \ n.s. .....................018 ..................605
Laborer \ n.s. .....................019 ..................612
Laborer \ n.s. .....................027 ..................613
Laborer \ n.s. .................037-049 ...............694

Assign code "612" to an entry of "laborer" when a respondent has not specified (n.s.) the most important activities of the job, and the industry code is "019."

Coding Industry From Occupation Responses

Some occupations and industries are so related that the occupation response can help a coder derive a missing industry response or revise an assigned industry code. For example:

Titles with industry code in parentheses:

Parking lot attendant ....................(909) ..................935

If the industry is not reported and the occupation is "parking lot attendant," assign the industry code 909. The parentheses indicate that the industry may be derived from the occupation when the industry was not supplied by the respondent.

Titles with industry code preceded by a number sign (#):

Foster parent ................................#829 ..................460
Assign occupation code 460 to a questionnaire entry of "foster parent" regardless of the industry code, which must be changed to 829 if the industry is not already coded to that category. The number sign indicates that the occupation "foster parent" can occur only in industry 829; no other combination is possible.

Class of Worker

In addition to asking for industry and occupation, most Census Bureau surveys ask a "class of worker" question, which identifies whether the respondent is salaried or self-employed, and whether the person works in the private sector or government. Assigning class of worker categories is, in most cases, independent of industry and occupation. The Census Bureau uses eight categories for class of worker. When this question is asked in a survey, the coding specialist should make sure that the question was answered and that it is consistent with the other answers about the respondent's job.

The class of worker entry can aid in coding occupation. The explanations of the class of worker abbreviations used in the occupation section of the Index are as follows:

Abbreviation Class of Worker

PR Working for a private company, business, or individual, for wages, salary, or commission

PR-NON Working for a private not-for-profit, tax exempt, or charitable organization

GOV, FGOV, SGOV, LGOV Working for federal (including foreign, international and tribal), state or local government

OWN, OBI³ OB, OBNI⁴ Working in own business, professional practice, or farm (incorporated and not incorporated)

WP Working without pay in a family business or farm

³OBI means "own business incorporated."
⁴OBNI means "own business not incorporated."

Armed Forces

In the Census 2000 industry classification each military branch has a unique 3-digit code. These codes are shown at the end of the Census 2000 Industrial Classification System found on this website.

Most military occupations that have civilian counterparts are coded using the Alphabetical Index of Occupations. Uniquely military occupations, however, are assigned one of four special code categories. These are listed at the end of the Census 2000 Occupational Classification System on this website. A separate Military Occupation Index, which lists most military occupations, is available to code most occupations in the Armed Forces. This Military Occupation Index was developed to code consistently to the Alphabetical Index, but it reflects the different terminology used by the military. For more information about the Military Index, contact the Industry, Occupation, and Statistical Information Branch of the Census Bureau on (301) 763-3239.

Contact the Census Call Center at 1-800-923-8282 (toll free) or visit ask.census.gov for further information.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division

Last Revised: June 20, 2012

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Census Bureau Word System	Dictionary Letter System
Art dealer (ret.)	Art dealer (ret.)
Art exhibits	Artesian wells (const.)
Art institute	Art exhibits
Artesian wells (const.)	Artichokes, bottled (mfg.)
Artichokes, bottled (mfg.)	Art institute

Auto	Rental	State
City	Repair	US (United States)
Electric	Self Employed

Apprentice	Inspector	Supervisor
Assembler	Manager	Teacher
Assistant	Mechanic	Technician
Engineer	Repairer
Helper	Sales

Abbreviation	Class of Worker
PR	Working for a private company, business, or individual, for wages, salary, or commission
PR-NON	Working for a private not-for-profit, tax exempt, or charitable organization
GOV, FGOV, SGOV, LGOV	Working for federal (including foreign, international and tribal), state or local government
OWN, OBI³ OB, OBNI⁴	Working in own business, professional practice, or farm (incorporated and not incorporated)
WP	Working without pay in a family business or farm