To research an industry, one of the first things you need to do is know its SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) code or its NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code, or both. You can look them up using the NAICS Code Identification Tool.
Bear in mind that many enterprises take part in more than one industry.
Articles
Once you know the NAICS or SIC code, you will also know the NAICS or SIC official description of a particular industry. You can search that description for scholarly articles in one of our business article databases.
Try Business Source Complete or Gale Business Insights databases.
To bring up only scholarly (peer-reviewed) articles on the topic, use the checkbox in the database search interface or on the search results page.
Industry Profiles
Some of our databases contain a document type called an Industry Profile.
- Business Source Complete - In Advanced Search, use the Select A Field drop-down menu to select IC NAICS Code or description. In the search box next to it, put in the NAICS code. Then go down to Publication Type, select Industry Profile, then click Search.
- ABI/INFORM - In Advanced Search, use the search box labeled NAICS code. Under Document Type, select Industry Report. Then click Search.
- Gale Business Insights - Click Advanced Search under the search bar at the top of the page and then click Industries under Other Search Options. Plug in the NAICS code in the search box on that page.
- Nexis Uni - Click on Market Insights from the landing page, or use the drop-down menu to search by country or industry reports. You can also click the Companies tab at the top of the screen.
Reports, Data, and Statistics
These are mostly government and NGO sources of data and reports on industries in the US and worldwide.
