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)
5418 - Advertising 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, 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, media planning and buying, and production of advertising material.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • conceptualizing and producing graphic designs, but not placing the advertising with media (See 54143 Graphic Design Services)
    • providing marketing consulting services (See 54161 Management Consulting Services)
    • purchasing advertising space from media outlets and reselling it to advertising agencies or individual companies directly (See 54183 Media Buying Agencies)
    • selling media time or space for media owners (See 54184 Media Representatives)
    • creating direct mail advertising campaigns (See 54186 Direct Mail Advertising)
    • writing advertising copy, but not placing the advertising with media (See 54189 Other Services Related to Advertising)
54182 - Public Relations Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating and implementing public relation campaigns. These campaigns are designed to promote the interests and image of their clients.

54183 - Media Buying Agencies

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in purchasing advertising time or space from media owners and reselling it directly to advertising agencies or advertisers.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • creating and placing advertising campaigns in media (See 54181 Advertising Agencies)
    • selling time and space to advertisers for media owners (See 54184 Media Representatives)
54184 - Media Representatives

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in selling media time or space for media owners.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • creating and placing advertising campaigns in media (See 54181 Advertising Agencies)
    • purchasing advertising time or space from media owners and reselling it directly to advertising agencies or advertisers (See 54183 Media Buying Agencies)
54185 - Display Advertising

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating public display advertising material, such as printed, painted, or electronic displays, and placing such displays on indoor or outdoor billboards and panels, on or within transit vehicles or facilities, in shopping mall displays, and on other display structures or sites.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • erecting display boards (See 23 Construction)
    • manufacturing electrical, mechanical or plate signs, and point-of-sale advertising displays (See 33995 Sign Manufacturing)
54186 - Direct Mail Advertising

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in creating and designing direct mail advertising campaigns, and preparing advertising material for mailing or other direct distribution. These establishments may also compile, maintain, sell and rent mailing lists.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • compiling and selling mailing lists, without also providing direct mail advertising services (See 51114 Database and Directory Publishers)
    • creating and placing advertising campaigns in media (See 54181 Advertising Agencies)
    • the door-to-door distribution or delivery of advertising materials or samples (See 54187 Advertising Material Distribution Services)
    • distributing advertising specialties (See 54189 Other Services Related to Advertising)
54187 - Advertising Material Distribution Services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the distribution or delivery, except by mail or electronic distribution, of advertising materials or samples.

  • Exclusion(s):

    Establishments primarily engaged in:

    • providing direct mail advertising services (See 54186 Direct Mail Advertising)
    • distributing advertising specialties (See 54189 Other Services Related to Advertising)
54189 - Other Services Related to Advertising

This industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other industry, primarily engaged in providing advertising related services, such as advertising specialties distribution; sign painting and lettering; welcoming services; window trimming services; and writing of advertising copy.

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