NAICS History & Editions
The current U.S. edition of NAICS is NAICS 2022. NAICS was developed as a production-oriented classification system for statistical analysis and has been implemented by U.S. federal statistical programs since 1997. While NAICS replaced SIC for many government statistical uses, SIC remains widely used in private-sector datasets, historical research, and market segmentation workflows.
Related resources: SIC vs NAICS Codes, NAICS Code Lookup Directory, SIC Code Lookup/Directory.
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Current NAICS Edition (United States)
NAICS 2022 is the current U.S. edition published by the U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS organizes establishments using a hierarchical structure—sector, subsector, industry group, industry, and national industry—to support consistent statistical reporting across the economy.
Common government uses
NAICS is frequently requested for federal statistical reporting, government programs, procurement, and compliance-related documentation.
Private-sector considerations
Despite NAICS adoption by government agencies, SIC codes remain embedded in many commercial databases and long-running industry datasets.
Transition from SIC to NAICS
The U.S. government relied on SIC for decades to standardize industrial statistics. Beginning in 1997, NAICS was introduced to improve measurement of service industries, technology sectors, and production-based relationships across North America.
| Period | Classification system | Key impact |
|---|---|---|
| 1937–1987 | SIC Codes | Provided long-term historical comparability for U.S. industrial statistics. |
| 1997–present | NAICS | Improved measurement of services, technology, and production processes. |
How NAICS Revisions Work
NAICS follows a recurring review process to reflect economic change, emerging industries, and advances in technology. Revisions are coordinated to maintain continuity while modernizing industry definitions.
Next revision cycle: The next scheduled NAICS revision is expected in 2027.
Why NAICS Was Created
NAICS is built on a production-oriented framework, grouping establishments that use similar inputs, labor, and capital equipment. This supports statistical analysis of productivity, output, and economic structure.
Modern economy alignment
NAICS expanded coverage of service industries and advanced technologies not well represented under SIC.
- E-commerce and digital-first business models (online retail, fulfillment, and platform-driven services)
- Technology-enabled services and new delivery channels
Cross-border comparability
The system improves alignment of industrial statistics across North America.
Best Practice: Store Both SIC and NAICS
- NAICS for government reporting, compliance, and statistical analysis.
- SIC and Extended SIC for private-sector segmentation, historical analysis, and marketing intelligence.
- Maintain both codes because cross-walks are not always one-to-one.
Tools: SIC vs NAICS, Extended SIC Directory
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the current NAICS edition?
NAICS 2022. - Did NAICS eliminate SIC?
No. NAICS replaced SIC for many federal statistical uses, but SIC remains widely used in private-sector datasets and historical analysis. - How often is NAICS updated?
NAICS is reviewed on a recurring cycle, commonly every five years. - Should businesses store both SIC and NAICS?
Yes. Storing both is considered best practice because mappings are not always one-to-one.