Business - About an Industry

Industry Codes

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industrial classification system common to Canada, United States and Mexico. The SIC system is being phased out in favour of the NAIC system.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)

The SIC manual is available on the U.S. Department of Labor website. Note that in some cases, the SIC codes used in Canada differ from those used in the U.S. SIC codes for Canada are available on Statistics Canada's web site.

Back to top

Industry Reports

Associations Canada    (More info)

Industry association web sites often have valuable reports and data for their sector. Reports may or may not be freely available. Use this directory to identify relevant associations. See the Information and Communications Technology Council for an example of the types of reports available from an association.

Business Source Premier   (More info)

Hint: Select "industry overview" from the list of Special Limiters.

Canadian Industry Statistics

Canadian Industry Statistics presents and analyzes industry data on the number of establishments, gross domestic product and labour productivity for industry sectors belonging to the Canadian Economy using a few of the latest annual data sources from Statistics Canada.

Sectors are defined in accordance with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 2002.

Additional analyses of sub-sectors, industry groups, industries and national industries belonging to the manufacturing sector are offered. These additional topics include employment, salaries and wages, manufacturing production, manufacturing costs, performance, capital investment and international merchandise trade." (Industry Canada)

Corporate Profiler (FPInfomart)   (More info)

GMID - Global Market Information Database (More Info)

      Provides access to statistics and reports on 20 000+ industry sectors.

Marketline   (More info)

Hint: Use the Industry Profiles "tab". More than 3000 industry reports are available.

Mintel Reports  (More info)   (Please Note: Users must create a personal profile/account to use this service) 

Provides access to market research reports containing data and analysis of industry trends.

National Industry Profiles  (Human Resources and Social Development Canada)

Industry profiles are economic analyses covering various sectors of the Canadian economy, with human resources issues as the focal point.  Each profile examines economic conditions and general trends in research and development and technology affecting the labour force in a particular industry.

STAT-USA   (More Info)

A U.S. Department of Commerce web portal that provides access to: State of the Nation, Global Business Opportunities (GLOBUS), National Trade Data Bank (NTDB), and The International Trade Library. International Market Insight Reports By Country. Select Canada.

Winspear Library Industry Database 

A directory of Canadian industry information sources. Note print sources noted may or may not be available at Seneca Libraries.

Back to top

Industry News, Trends and Analysis

ABI/Inform Global   (More Info)

Hint: Search by NAICS code or use the word "industry" as a search keyword.

Business Source Premier   (More info)

Hint: Select "industry overview" from the list of Special Limiters.

Canadian NewsStand     (More info)

Hint: Use the word "industry" as a search keyword.

CBCA Current Events   (More info)

Hint: Search by NAICS code or use the word "industry" as a search keyword.

Corporate Profiler (FPInfomart)   (More info)

Back to top

Industry Statistics

E-STAT   (More info)

Statistics Canada's database containing over 730 000 time series. It is a detailed source of Canadian industry data.

Statistics Canada Publications  

Hint: This is an index of publications. Seneca Libraries may or may not hold publications sought. Check the library catalogue.

STAT-USA   (More info)

A U.S. Department of Commerce web portal that provides access to: State of the Nation, Global Business Opportunities (GLOBUS), National Trade Data Bank (NTDB), and The International Trade Library.

U.S. Census Bureau Economic Programs 

Provides access to the economic census (data by NAICS on the number of establishments, payroll, employees, etc.), Annual Survey of Manufacturers and U.S. data from natinal, state and Zip code level. 

Back to top

Industry History

Canadian Encyclopedia

Provides short articles tracing the development of 60+ Canadian industries.

Canadian Industry Statistics - Industry Canada

Canadian and U.S. industry trends from 1990 to 2003 including data on production, investment, employment, and trade.

Encyclopedia of American Industries (2007)

Covers hundreds of U.S. industries, their development, structure, leaders, research and development. Includes a section on current conditions.

Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic History  (on order)

Covers 80+ industries from a historical perspective including themes like technological change, organization, markets and trade.

Library Catalogue

Many industries are the subject of in-depth historical study. For example: Kaiser-Frazer, the last onslaught on Detroit : an intimate behind the scenes study of the postwar American car industry. HD9710.U54 K338 1975.

Back to top

Other Subject Guides

Back to top

Tutorials

Back to top