Published by Statistics Canada

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the standard used by Canada, the United States, and Mexico to classify business establishments by type of economic activity. The 2022 Version 1.0 is the latest update, reflecting changes in the economy and emerging industries.

Key Features and Purpose

Harmonized Across North America: Developed collaboratively by the three countries to support consistent data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Production-Based Framework: Classifies establishments based on how goods and services are produced, enabling detailed industry analysis and performance tracking.

Comprehensive and Structured: Covers the full range of economic activity in Canada, organized into 20 sectors and further refined into sub-sectors, industry groups, and detailed industries.

Statistical Foundation: Used by Statistics Canada and other agencies to support economic research, policy development, and data reporting. Though widely adopted, non-statistical users (e.g., for legislation or administration) are responsible for adapting the system appropriately.

Use This Resource To:

• Classify businesses or establishments by industry
• Support research, policy, and planning activities
• Access definitions and codes for all economic sectors in Canada

By providing a consistent and structured view of Canada’s economic landscape, NAICS remains an essential tool for informed decision-making, analysis, and planning across both public and private sectors.