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Technical Note: Defining High-Technology Industries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) developed a list of high-technology industries based on Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes in 1999 (Heckler 1999). The list was based on measures of industry employment in both R&D and technology-oriented occupations, using Occupational Employment Statistics surveys from 1993 to 1995 in which employers were asked to explicitly report the number of workers engaged in R&D activity. The researchers identified 31 three-digit SIC R&D-intensive industries in which the number of R&D workers and technology-oriented occupations accounted for a proportion of employment that was at least twice the average for all industries surveyed. These industries had at least 6 R&D and 76 technology-oriented workers per 1,000 workers. The BLS list included 27 manufacturing and 4 service industries.
The Office of Technology Policy, with assistance from the Census Bureau, converted the BLS list of SIC codes to the 1997 edition of the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes using the concordance between the two classification systems. The process necessitated both splitting and combining codes. The resulting list of high-technology NAICS codes includes 39 categories that range from four- to six-digit detail. Twenty-nine categories identify manufacturing industries, and 10 identify service industries. The industry categories included in the high-technology segment are shown in table 8-43.
All high-technology data in this chapter were collected based on the 1997 NAICS codes. The NAICS codes were updated in 2002, and this revised coding system was used beginning with 2003 data.
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Table 8-43
High-technology NAICS codes
NAICS Code | Industry |
---|---|
32411 | Petroleum Refineries |
3251 | Basic Chemical Manufacturing |
3252 | Resin, Synthetic Rubber, and Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing |
3253 | Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing |
3254 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing |
3255 | Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing |
3256 | Soap, Cleaning Compound, and Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3259 | Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing |
332992 | Ordnance & Accessories Manufacturing—Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
332993 | Ordnance & Accessories Manufacturing—Ammunition (except Small Arms) Manufacturing |
332994 | Ordnance & Accessories Manufacturing—Small Arms Manufacturing |
332995 | Ordnance & Accessories Manufacturing—Other Ordnance and Accessories Manufacturing |
3331 | Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing |
3332 | Industrial Machinery Manufacturing |
3333 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
3336 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing |
3339 | Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing |
3341 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing |
3342 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing |
3343 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3344 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing |
3345 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing |
3346 | Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media |
3353 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing |
33599 | All Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing |
3361 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing |
3362 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing |
3363 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing |
3364 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing |
3391 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing |
5112 | Software Publishers |
514191 | On-Line Information Services |
5142 | Data Processing Services |
5413 | Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services |
5415 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services |
5416 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services |
5417 | Scientific Research and Development Services |
6117 | Educational Support Services |
811212 | Computer and Office Machine Repair and Maintenance |
NAICS North American Industrial Classification System |
Reference
Hecker, D. 1999. High-technology employment: A broader view. Monthly Labor Review 122(6):18.