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Shovels includes industry classification data for contractors, though this data has important limitations to understand.

Available Classification Fields

Data Sources

Business industry classifications come from self-reported data, typically through:
  • Business registration
  • Insurance-related transactions

Important Limitations

Self-Reported Nature

Classifications are self-reported by businesses, not verified by Shovels.

Broad Categories

Classifications are quite broad and may not precisely reflect a contractor’s specialization.

Multiple Classifications

Companies in higher-risk occupations often use multiple industry identifiers to reduce their workers’ compensation insurance liability.

No Central Authority

There is no central authority governing these categories.
The Primary_industry field should be taken with a grain of salt due to these limitations.

NAICS vs SIC

Both are included in our data because NAICS isn’t as widely adopted as SIC codes.

Better Alternatives

For understanding what a contractor actually does, consider:
  • Permit descriptions - What work they’ve actually permitted
  • Tags - Shovels-assigned categories based on permit data
  • Permit history - Patterns of work they’ve completed