The relationship between the North American Industry Classification System Canada 2002 (NAICS Canada) and revision 3.1 of the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC Rev. 3.1) is shown below in a concordance table. The table shows the Canadian interpretation of the relationships between the two classifications.

The concordance is shown at the lowest level of both classifications, namely at the 6-digit level in NAICS Canada and the 4-digit level in ISIC. In the table, 14 NAICS Canada classes are related to an ISIC code Z0000. The code does not exist in ISIC but rather is used to explain that these NAICS Canada classes are not classifiable in ISIC.

The relationships between the two classifications can be simple or complex. The following examples are presented to illustrate how the table should be read.

In the first example, one NAICS Canada class relates to exactly one ISIC class.

In the second example, one ISIC class is equivalent to more than one NAICS Canada class. The asterisk (Partial Flag) indicates that part of ISIC D1543 is equivalent to each NAICS Canada class. The ISIC activities corresponding to each NAICS Canada class are listed in the column labelled "Explanatory Notes".

In the third example, one NAICS Canada class is equivalent to more than one ISIC class.

Wholesale Trade

* Also published without NAICS 411120 Oilseed and Grain Wholesaler-Distributors as: Trade Group Sector "Aa" Farm Products (excluding oilseeds and grains), comprising Trade Group 11 Farm Products (excluding oilseeds and grain).

Wholesale Trade

* Also published without NAICS 411120 Oilseed and Grain Wholesaler-Distributors as: Trade Group Sector "Aa" Farm Products (excluding oilseeds and grains), comprising Trade Group 11 Farm Products (excluding oilseeds and grain).

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The relationship between the 1980 SIC and NAICS Canada is shown using two concordance tables. The first table shows the relationship of NAICS Canada to the 1980 SIC. The second table shows the relationship in the other sequence, that is, the 1980 SIC to NAICS Canada. The two tables, taken together, provide a cross-reference of the relationships between the two classifications. (Note that statistically insignificant links have been omitted from these concordance tables).

These concordances are shown first at a high level of aggregation, relating Sectors in NAICS to Divisions in the 1980 SIC (Tables 1 and 2). The information provided allows users to see which activities have moved into and out of the categories of each classification, when compared to the other classification at a broad level of aggregation. For example, the explanatory notes for the Division to Sector concordance shows that Veterinary Services, which are part of Division A, Agriculture and Related Service Industries in the 1980 SIC, have moved to NAICS Sector 54, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services. Similarly, Logging, which was part of Division C, Logging and Forestry Industries in the 1980 SIC has moved to NAICS Sector 11, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting. Users will find these tables useful in comparing aggregate data compiled on the basis of the old and new classifications.

The concordance tables are also shown at the lowest level of both classifications, namely at the 4 digit level in the 1980 SIC and the 6 digit level in NAICS Canada (Tables 3 and 4). These tables highlight the differences and similarities between the most detailed industry classes of the two classifications, information that is useful when converting data from one classification to the other.

NAICS Canada is substantially different from the 1980 SIC. Only 220 classes at the lowest level of detail remain the same in the two classifications. Though some 1980 SIC classes were simply split or combined, very often particular activities from different 1980 SIC industries were removed and recombined into new NAICS Canada industries. A case in point is that of Repair Services, which were taken out of the many 1980 SIC industries in which they were to be found and brought together to create a group of NAICS Canada industries called Repair and Maintenance.

In the Tables, two NAICS Canada classes are related to a code of --- in the column for the 1980 SIC. The code --- is used to indicate that the NAICS Canada class is related to a very small part of a large number of 1980 SIC classes, too many to show in the concordance.

In the 1980 SIC, the convention with respect to ancillary units (producing units that manage or provide services to other establishments of the same enterprise), was to code them to the predominant industry of the establishments managed or served. In NAICS Canada, an industry code is provided for the service provided by administrative Head Offices but it is related to code --- in the column for the 1980 SIC, because of the large number of 1980 SIC industries to which the activity would have been coded.

There are a number of classes, the content of which has not changed. However, when one 1980 SIC class relates to parts of one or more NAICS Canada classes, and vice versa, an asterisk is used to indicate that only a part of the industry relates to the one against which it is shown. As illustrated below, an asterisk is used to indicate this partial relationship between the two classifications, and the explanatory note explains, in terms of activities, which part relates to the industry in question. This information is needed by users who wish to convert data collected on the basis of one classification, to the other classification.

The concordance is presented in the form of tables arranged in the sequence of each classification. Tables 1 and 3 present the concordance in the order of NAICS Canada, with the NAICS Canada code shown on the left side of the table; Tables 2 and 4 present the concordance in the order of the 1980 Canadian SIC, with the 1980 SIC code shown on the left side of the table. The illustrative examples below were taken from Tables 3 and 4, respectively.

The 1980 SIC and NAICS Canada classes are identical, only the title has changed.

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

Example 3:
A class in one classification is equivalent to part of a class in the other classification.

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.).

Example 4:
A class in one classification is linked to more than one class in the other classification.

The most common instance is where the activities of a class in one classification correspond to more than one class in the other classification. It should be noted that, in the example, the contents of the 1980 SIC class 0135 corresponds to a full NAICS Canada class, and to parts of several other NAICS Canada classes (shown with asterisks).

How to find partial relationships in the concordances

The various components of a given class in one classification are sometimes found in classes that are quite distant from one another in the order and format of the other classification. In example three above, NAICS Canada 115110 * is partially related to 1980 SIC 0223. To find the remaining 1980 SIC classes, to which NAICS Canada 115110 relates, the user should turn to the other concordance table, where the classes are arranged in NAICS Canada order. The user will find that the 1980 SIC classes 0221,0222, 0229 *, 0231 *, and 4513 *, are also related to NAICS Canada 115110.

Similarly, in the second part of example three, above, NAICS Canada 111419 is partially related to 1980 SIC 0162 *. The other concordance shows that NAICS Canada 111219 * and 111422 * are also partially related to 1980 SIC 0162.

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 for those 220 classes, at the most detailed level of the 1980 SIC and NAICS Canada, 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.

The relationship between the 1996 SGC and the 2001 SGC is shown using two concordance tables. The first table shows the relationship of the 2001 SGC to the 1996 SGC. The second table shows the relationship in the other sequence, that is, the 1996 SGC to the 2001 SGC. The two tables, taken together, provide a cross-reference of the relationships between the two classifications.

The concordance tables are shown at the lowest level of both classifications, namely the census subdivisions (municipalities). These tables highlight the differences between the census subdivisions (CSDs) of the two classifications, information that is useful when converting data from one classification to the other. (Note that to make the tables simpler the concordance tables are partial. Most of the CSDs have been omitted from these tables whether there was not any change affecting those CSDs or whether the change did not have a direct impact upon the SGC, for example, a partial annexation, and a boundary or population revision of CSDs).

The changes affecting CSDs have been grouped into three categories under the remark column. The first category: Changed to indicates that the name, status, and/or code of a CSD have been changed. The second category: Part of relates one CSD on the left side of the table to only part of a CSD on the right. The third category Equivalent to shows (1) a "one to one" relationship where the CSD on the left is equivalent to one full CSD on the right, (2) a "one to many" relationship: a CSD on the left is equivalent to two or more CSDs (full CSDs and/or part of CSDs) on the right. When one 1996 CSD relates to parts of one or more 2001 CSDs, and vice versa, an asterisk is used to indicate that only a part of the CSD relates to the one against which it is shown.

The concordance is presented in the form of tables arranged in the sequence of each classification. The table 2001 SGC – 1996 SGC presents the concordance in the order of the 2001 SGC, with the 2001 SGC code shown on the left side of the table; the table 1996 SGC – 2001 SGC presents the concordance in the order of the 1996 SGC, with the 1996 SGC code shown on the left side of the table. The illustrative examples below were taken from these two tables, respectively.

Example 1:
the CSDs in both classifications are identical, only the name, status and/or code have changed.

Example 2:
A CSD in one classification is equivalent to part of a CSD in the other classification.

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

A CSD in one classification is linked to only one CSD in the other classification.

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

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

In addition to the contents of these tables, the other changes such as partial annexations, and boundary and population revisions which are not shown here should be considered by users interested in the exact boundaries and population counts of CSDs. This information is available in the "Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status and Names" prepared by Geography Division.