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Industry Research: Home

Intro to Industry

These pages will explain ways to search for industry info. If you are targeting a specific company, you may also want to check out the Company Research guide.

Industry Classification

Throughout these pages are multiple references to NAICS and SIC codes. NAICS is the current standard, but many sources continue to use SIC. Both classification systems provide a way to organize companies into specific industry groups. Below are links to outlines and manuals for both. They also provide complete definitions and descriptions for each industry.

  • North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) - the 6-digit standard used by federal agencies to classify business establishments. ABI/Inform, Business Source Elite, and LexisNexis (see Articles tab) all allow you to search for articles about industries using NAICS codes.
  • Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system - the former standard, still in use by some organizations, based on four-digit codes. LexisNexis and ABI/Inform allow searches using SIC codes.

How to Reach Me:

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Sean Cordes
Contact:
245 Malpass Library
309-298-2785
Subjects: English