The Relationship Between The 1990 Census and ... - Census Bureau

In the change from the 1990 Census to the Census 2000 industrial classification, there were many detailed
categories and parts of detailed categories that shifted between the 1990 and 2000 published data. The
people in these categories, in effect, “moved” from one category to another as a result of classification
change, rather than due to a real change in the workforce. The adjustments made to the 1990 data in this
paper account for these movements of people in these categories, and thereby make the 1990 data
comparable to the 2000 data.
The following are some major differences between the 1987 SIC and 1997 NAICS, which in turn are
reflected as major differences between the 1990 and 2000 census data:
1. The category “Landscape and horticultural services” was part of the group “Agriculture, forestry,
and fishing” in the 1990 classification. Most of the people in this category went to “Landscaping
services,” which is part of the “Administrative, support, and waste management services” sector in
the 2000 classification.
2. The categories for “Newspaper publishing and printing” and other publishing industries were part
of the “Manufacturing, nondurable goods” group in 1990. Most of the people in these industries
went to “Newspaper publishers” and “Publishing except newspapers and software,” which are part
of the “Information” sector in 2000.
3. People working in travel agencies and bureaus went from the “Transportation” group in 1990 to
the “Administrative, support, and waste management” sector in 2000.
4. The “Communications and other public utilities” group in 1990 split primarily into two sectors in
2000: “Utilities” and “Information.”
5. The category “Eating and drinking places” was part of “Retail trade” in 1990. Most of the people
in this category went to “Restaurants and other food services” and “Drinking places, alcoholic
beverages,” both of which are part of the “Accommodation and food services” sector in 2000.
6. The “Finance, insurance, and real estate” group in 1990 split primarily into two sectors in 2000:
“Finance and insurance” and “Real estate, and rental and leasing.”
7. The 1990 group “Business and repair services” split into many parts in the 2000 classification.
Many people shifted from this 1990 group into the 2000 sectors “Information,” “Professional,
scientific, and technical services,” “Administrative, support, and waste management services,” and
“Other services (except public administration).”
8. The “Personal services” group in 1990 split primarily into two sectors in 2000: “Administrative,
support, and waste management services” and “Other services.”
9. The category “Theatres and motion pictures” was part of the “Entertainment and recreation
services” group in 1990. Most of the people in this category went to “Motion pictures and video
industries,” “Sound recording industries,” and “Radio and television broadcasting and cable,” all
of which are in the “Information” sector in 2000.
10. The 1990 group “Other professional and related services” split into many parts in the 2000
classification. Many people shifted from this 1990 group into the 2000 sectors “Arts,
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