North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2017 Version 3.0

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54 - Professional, scientific and technical services

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in activities in which human capital is the major input. These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees, often on an assignment basis. The individual industries of this sector are defined on the basis of the particular expertise and training of the service provider.

The main components of this sector are legal services; accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services; architectural, engineering and related services; specialized design services; computer systems design and related services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services; and advertising, public relations, and related services.

The distinguishing feature of this sector is the fact that most of the industries grouped in it have production processes that are almost wholly dependent on worker skills. In most of these industries, equipment and materials are not of major importance. Thus, the establishments classified in this sector sell expertise. Much of the expertise requires a university or college education, though not in every case.

Establishments primarily engaged in providing instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects and those primarily engaged in providing health care by diagnosis and treatment are not included in this sector.

541 - Professional, scientific and technical services

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in activities in which human capital is the major input. These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees, often on an assignment basis. The individual industries of this subsector are defined on the basis of the particular expertise and training of the service provider.

The main components of this subsector are legal services; accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services; architectural, engineering and related services; specialized design services; computer systems design and related services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services; and advertising, public relations, and related services.

The distinguishing feature of this subsector is the fact that most of the industries grouped in it have production processes that are almost wholly dependent on worker skills. In most of these industries, equipment and materials are not of major importance. Thus, the establishments classified in this subsector sell expertise. Much of the expertise requires a university or college education, though not in every case.

Establishments primarily engaged in providing instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects and those primarily engaged in providing health care by diagnosis and treatment are not included in this subsector.

5418 - Advertising, public relations, and related services

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating mass-media advertising or public relation campaigns; placing advertising in media for advertisers or advertising agencies; selling media time or space to advertisers or advertising agencies for media owners; creating and implementing indoor or outdoor display advertising campaigns; creating and implementing direct mail advertising campaigns; delivering (except by mail) advertising materials or samples; creating and implementing specialty advertising campaigns; providing related services, such as sign painting and lettering, welcoming services and window trimming services.

54181 - Advertising agencies

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in periodicals and newspapers, on radio and television, on the Internet, or with other media. These establishments are organized to provide a full range of services (through in-house capabilities or subcontracting), including advice, creative services, account management, production of advertising material, media planning, and buying (i.e., placing advertising).

541810 - Advertising agencies

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating advertising campaigns and placing such advertising in periodicals and newspapers, on radio and television, on the Internet, or with other media. These establishments are organized to provide a full range of services (through in-house capabilities or subcontracting), such as advice, creative services, account management, production of advertising material, media planning, and buying (i.e., placing advertising).

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • full-service advertising agency
    • sales promotion campaign services

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • conceptualizing and producing graphic designs, but not placing the advertising with media (See 541430 Graphic design services)
    • creating direct mail advertising campaigns (See 541860 Direct mail advertising)
    • providing marketing consulting services (See 541611 Administrative management and general management consulting services)
    • purchasing advertising space from media outlets and reselling it to advertising agencies or individual companies directly (See 541830 Media buying agencies)
    • selling media time or space for media owners (See 541840 Media representatives)
    • writing promotional messages, but not placing the advertising with media (See 541891 Specialty advertising distributors)
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