Variant of NAICS 1997 - Goods and services

41-91 - Services

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 industries, accounting and related services industries, architectural, engineering and related services industries, surveying and mapping services industries, design services industries, management, scientific and technical consulting services industries, scientific research and development services industries, and advertising services industries.

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 industries, accounting and related services industries, architectural, engineering and related services industries, surveying and mapping services industries, design services industries, management, scientific and technical consulting services industries, scientific research and development services industries, and advertising services industries.

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.

• Example Activities:

  • Laboratories (see specific type)

5413 - Architectural, Engineering and Related Services

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing architectural, engineering and related services, such as structure design, drafting, building inspection, landscape design, surveying and mapping, laboratory and on-site testing, and interior, industrial, graphic and other specialized design services.

54131 - Architectural Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in planning and designing the construction of residential, institutional, leisure, commercial and industrial buildings and other structures by applying knowledge of design, construction procedures, zoning regulations, building codes and building materials.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • both the design and construction of buildings, highways or other structures (See 23 Construction)
  • managing construction projects (See 23141 Construction Management)
  • planning and designing landscapes (See 54132 Landscape Architectural Services)

54132 - Landscape Architectural Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in planning, designing and administering the development of land areas for projects such as parks and other recreational areas, airports, highways, hospitals, schools, land subdivisions, and commercial, industrial and residential areas by applying knowledge of land characteristics, location of buildings and structures, use of land areas, and design of landscape projects.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • operating retail nursery and garden centres that also provide landscape consulting and design services (See 44422 Nursery and Garden Centres)
  • designing, installing and maintaining the materials specified in the design as part of an integrated service (See 56173 Landscaping Services)

54133 - Engineering Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in applying principles of engineering in the design, development and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, structures, processes and systems. The assignments undertaken by these establishments may involve any of the following activities: the provision of advice, the preparation of feasibility studies, the preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, the provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, the inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • both the design and construction of buildings, highways and other structures (See 23 Construction)
  • managing construction projects (See 23141 Construction Management)
  • gathering, interpreting and mapping geophysical data (See 54136 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services)
  • providing engineering surveying services (See 54137 Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services)
  • creating and developing designs and specifications that optimize the function, value and appearance of products (See 54142 Industrial Design Services)
  • planning and designing computer systems that integrate existing hardware, packaged or custom software and communication technologies (See 54151 Computer Systems Design and Related Services)
  • providing advice and assistance to others on environmental issues, such as the control of environmental contamination from pollutants, toxic substances and hazardous materials (See 54162 Environmental Consulting Services)

54134 - Drafting Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in drawing detailed layouts, plans and illustrations of buildings, structures, systems or components from engineering and architectural specifications.

54135 - Building Inspection Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing building inspection services. These establishments typically evaluate all aspects of the building structure and component systems and prepare a report on the physical condition of the property, generally for buyers or others involved in real estate transactions.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • inspecting buildings for hazardous materials (See 54162 Environmental Consulting Services)
  • inspecting buildings for termites and other pests (See 56171 Exterminating and Pest Control Services)
  • conducting inspections and enforcing public building codes (See 91 Public Administration)

54136 - Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in gathering, interpreting and mapping geophysical data. These establishments often specialize in locating and measuring the extent of subsurface resources, such as oil, gas and minerals, but they may also conduct surveys for engineering purposes. A variety of surveying techniques are used, including seismic, magnetic, gravity, electrical and electromagnetic, radioactive and remote sensing, depending on the purpose of the survey.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • geophysical surveying activities in combination with other exploration activities (See 21311 Support Activities for Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction)

54137 - Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing surveying and mapping services of the surface of the earth, including the sea floor. These services may include surveying and mapping of areas above or below the surface of the earth, such as the creation of view easements or segregating rights in parcels of land by creating underground utility easements. Examples of activities in this industry are cadastral and topographic surveying and mapping services; control surveying services, such as geodesy and Global Positioning System (GPS) surveying; cartographic surveying services, including photogrammetric mapping; geographic information system (GIS) base mapping and quality control services; and geospatial mapping services.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • publishing atlases and maps (See 51119 Other Publishers)
  • developing and/or publishing GIS software (See 51121 Software Publishers)
  • providing geophysical surveying and mapping services (See 54136 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services)

54138 - Testing Laboratories

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing physical, chemical and other analytical testing services. The testing activities may occur in a laboratory or on-site.

• Exclusion(s):

  Establishments primarily engaged in:

  • performing laboratory testing for the veterinary profession (See 54194 Veterinary Services)
  • performing clinical laboratory testing for the medical profession (See 62151 Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories)
  • auto emissions testing (See 81119 Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance)