This report compares the current Standard Industrial Classifications of the United Nations (1968) [International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities], with those of the United States (1967)applicable to establishment-type economic units. The 1968 United Nations International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) contained a number of major changes from the 1958 classification. The detailed structure was raised from a 3-digit to a 4-digit code. A new level, the division, was introduced between the first and second levels of the preceding ISIC. The major divisions, major groups, and groups of the present version correspond in general to the divisions, major groups, and groups of the 1958 ISIC. Also, the number of major groups were further subdivided in this version, thus enhancing the usefulness of the ISIC for purposes of analyzing economic statistics. The 1967 U.S. SIC changes from 1963 were generally limited to revision within the same 3-digit industry groups.

Every identifiable industry in the U.S. is organized into a major category of related industries and given a specific code number. These codes are called Standard Industrial Classification codes and this manual contains them all. The codes relate to an organizational system used by many professionals such as bankers, accountants, economists, and many more.