How to Read the NAICS 2002 Concordance Tables

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The concordance is presented in the form of tables arranged in the sequence of each classification. The concordance is in the order of NAICS 2002, with the NAICS 2002 code shown on the left side. The second concordance is in the order of NAICS 1997, with the NAICS 1997 code shown on the left side of the table. The illustrative examples below were taken from the manual.

The NAICS 1997 and NAICS 2002 classes are identical, only the title has changed.

Example 1:
The NAICS 1997 and NAICS 2002 classes are identical, only the title has changed.
NAICS 1997 NAICS 2002 Explanatory Notes
511140 Database and Directory Publishers 511140 Directory and Mailing List Publishers  

A class in one classification is exactly equivalent to two classes in the other classification.

Example 2:
A class in one classification is exactly equivalent to two classes in the other classification.
NAICS 2002 NAICS 1997 Explanatory Notes
238310 Drywall and Insulation Contractors 232410 Drywall and Plaster Work  
232440 Insulation Work  

When the concordance relates one class on the left to only part of a class on the right, this partial relationship is denoted by an asterisk against the code on the right. (Note that the asterisk marked class will reappear against all the classes to which it partially relates.)

A class in one classification is equivalent to part of a class in the other classification.

Example 3:
A class in one classification is equivalent to part of a class in the other classification.
NAICS 2002 NAICS 1997 Explanatory Notes
238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors 232450* Building Painting and Paper Hanging Work Except sandblasting building exteriors
 
NAICS 1997 NAICS 2002 Explanatory Notes
232450 Building Painting and Paper Hanging Work 238320 Painting and Wall Covering Contractors  
238990* All Other Specialty Trade Contractors Sandblasting building exteriors

A class in one classification is linked to more than one class in the other classification.

Example 4:
A class in one classification is linked to more than one class in the other classification.
NAICS 2002 NAICS 1997 Explanatory Notes
516110 Internet Publishing and Broadcasting 511110* Newspaper Publishers Internet newspaper publishing
511120* Periodical Publishers Internet periodical publishing
511130* Book Publishers Internet book publishing
511140* Database and Directory Publishers Internet data base, directory, mailing list, and shipping register publishing
511190* Other Publishers Publishing maps, street guides and atlases (exclusively on Internet)
511210* Software Publishers Internet software publishing
514199* All Other Information Services Internet broadcasting

Users are cautioned that data coded to one classification cannot automatically be converted to the other with the help of these concordance tables.

Data can be automatically converted from the codes of one classification to the codes of the other only for those classes that are identical. For the rest, in order to convert records relating to businesses or establishments from one classification to the other, it is necessary to know the principal activity of the business or establishment and to recode each one to the other classification with the help of the explanatory notes of the concordance or with the help of a detailed alphabetical index of activity descriptions coded to both classifications.

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