LinkedIn Industry List

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 875 million members across 200 countries and territories worldwide. With so many professionals on the platform, LinkedIn categorizes companies and members into different industries to better segment and target audiences.

In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the full LinkedIn industry list for 2023 so you can properly categorize your company and optimize your LinkedIn presence.

Overview of LinkedIn’s Industry Categories

LinkedIn divides industries into two levels:

  • Industry Groups – Broad categories like Technology or Media
  • Sub-Industries – More specific segments within each group like Computer Games or Online Publishing

There are currently 8 major LinkedIn industry groups:

  • Architecture & Engineering
  • Business Services
  • Consumer Goods
  • Education
  • Media
  • Non-Profit
  • Technology
  • Healthcare

Within each high-level group, there are 50-100 more niche sub-industries to choose from.

Some key things to know about LinkedIn’s industry classification:

  • You can only select 1 industry group and 1 sub-industry for your Company Page. For your personal profile, you can showcase up to 3 positions with different industries.
  • Industry selection matters for targeting. LinkedIn displays sponsored content to audiences based on their industry.
  • Industry informs the Groups and content you see in your LinkedIn feed. You’ll see more content tailored to your industry.

Now let’s dive into the specific sub-industries within each major LinkedIn industry category.

Also read: LinkedIn X-Ray Search in 2023: The Ultimate Guide to Boolean Recruiting

LinkedIn Architecture & Engineering Industry List

The Architecture & Engineering industry group contains sub-industries like:

  • Architecture & Planning
  • Civil Engineering
  • Construction
  • Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  • Environmental Services
  • Mechanical or Industrial Engineering

View the full LinkedIn Architecture & Engineering sub-industry list:

Architecture & Engineering Sub-Industries
Architecture & Planning
Civil Engineering
Construction
Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
Environmental Services
Mechanical or Industrial Engineering

LinkedIn Business Services Industry Options

The Business Services group contains Consulting, Marketing, Printing, Staffing & Outsourcing, and more:

Business Services Sub-Industries
Accounting
Business Supplies and Equipment
Consulting
Consumer Services
E-Learning
Financial Services
Human Resources
IT Services
Legal Services
Management Consulting
Marketing and Advertising
Market Research
Packaging and Containers
Printing
Professional Training & Coaching
Real Estate
Rental and Leasing Services
Security and Investigations
Staffing and Recruiting
Translation and Localization
Writing and Editing

Full LinkedIn Consumer Goods Industry List

Apparel, Consumer Electronics, Consumer Goods, Furniture, and more fall under the Consumer Goods group:

Consumer Goods Sub-Industries
Apparel & Fashion
Consumer Electronics
Consumer Goods
Consumer Packaged Goods
Cosmetics
Food & Beverages
Footwear
Furniture
Sporting Goods
Textiles
Tobacco
Toys

LinkedIn Education Industry Classification

Education is split into Administration, E-Learning, Primary/Secondary Education and more:

Education Sub-Industries
E-Learning
EdTech
Education Management
Higher Education
Libraries
Museums and Institutions
Primary/Secondary Education
Research
Vocational Education

Media Industry Segments on LinkedIn

LinkedIn breaks Media down into Broadcasting, Entertainment, Gaming, Internet, Publishing, and more:

Media Sub-Industries
Broadcast Media
Computer Games
Entertainment
Internet
Media Production
Motion Pictures and Film
Music
Newspapers
Online Publishing
Publishing
Radio

LinkedIn Nonprofit Industry Options

Nonprofit sub-industries include Philanthropy, Religious Institutions, Social Services, and more:

Nonprofit Sub-Industries
Civic & Social Organization
Fundraising
Museums and Institutions
Nonprofit Organization Management
Philanthropy
Political Organization
Religious Institutions
Social Services

Also read: Seamless LinkedIn Login: Setup, Security, and Troubleshooting

Full List of Technology Industries on LinkedIn

Some of the many Tech sub-categories include:

  • Computer Hardware
  • Computer Networking
  • Computer Software
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Information Technology & Services
  • Internet
  • Semiconductors
  • Telecommunications

View the complete LinkedIn Technology industry list:

Technology Sub-Industries
Animation
Computer Games
Computer Hardware
Computer Networking
Computer Software
Consumer Electronics
Data Science
Information Technology and Services
Internet
Mobile Games
Nanotechnology
Program Development
Research
Search Engine
Security and Investigations
Semiconductors
Software Development
Staffing and Recruiting
Technology Consulting
Telecommunications
Translation and Localization
Venture Capital & Private Equity
Video Games
Web Design
Web Development
Wireless

Healthcare Industry Segmentation on LinkedIn

Healthcare is divided into many sub-industries like Biotechnology, Health Care Services, Hospitals, Pharmaceuticals, and more:

Healthcare Sub-Industries
Biotechnology
Health Care Services
Health, Wellness and Fitness
Higher Education
Hospital & Health Care
Medical Devices
Medical Practice
Mental Health Care
Nonprofit Organization Management
Pharmaceuticals
Program Development
Research

Choosing the Right LinkedIn Industry

With over 850 sub-industry options on LinkedIn, choosing the right one for your company is important. Here are some tips:

  • Be specific: Pick a sub-industry vs. the high-level industry group when possible. “Computer Software” is better than just “Technology”.
  • Consider your customers: Which industry does your target customer base belong to? Align with the industry that best represents your audience.
  • Think growth: If you serve multiple industries now but are focused on expanding into a particular vertical, match your growth industry.
  • Don’t stress: Your industry selection isn’t permanent. You can change it later if your business evolves.

Also read: What is InMail on LinkedIn? The Complete Guide to Understanding and Using InMail

How Do LinkedIn Industries Work?

Every LinkedIn member is asked to add their industry while setting up their profile. This helps categorize profiles and makes it easier for the right connections to find you.

LinkedIn provides an extensive pre-populated list of industries and sub-categories to choose from. You can select up to 5 industries for your profile.

Some examples of LinkedIn industries include:

  • Software & IT
  • Marketing & Advertising
  • Higher Education
  • Accounting
  • Retail Industry
  • Performing Arts

Within each broad industry, LinkedIn offers more specialized sub-industry and niche categories. For example, under the Information Technology industry, you can select sub-industries like Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, or Computer Networking.

Recruiters often search for candidates within specific industries or sub-categories. Choosing the correct ones makes your profile visible to the right people.

In addition to recruiters, LinkedIn’s search algorithm uses your industries to determine which profiles and content to show you. For example, selecting Healthcare as an industry means you’ll see more healthcare-focused content in your LinkedIn feed.

Benefits of Selecting Accurate LinkedIn Industries

Picking the right LinkedIn industries delivers several advantages:

Increased Profile Visibility

The industries you select define who can find you. Recruiters search LinkedIn profiles within specific industries to find candidates. Listing accurate industries ensures your profile appears in these searches.

You’ll also appear higher in search results when people search for your industries.

Better Networking & Connections

LinkedIn suggests connections based on shared industries and interests. Choosing your correct industry helps LinkedIn recommend relevant profiles for you to connect and network with.

More Targeted Job Recommendations

LinkedIn uses your industries to display matching job opportunities. Accurately categorizing your industries results in seeing open roles that align with your professional background and interests.

Relevant News & Content

Your LinkedIn feed displays news and articles related to the industries you’ve selected. The industries you pick tailor the content shown in your feed.

Increased Credibility

Selecting your true industries and specialties boosts your credibility. It shows you have the right background and expertise.

In summary, accurate LinkedIn industries optimize your profile visibility, networking potential, job recommendations, content feed, and credibility.

Key Takeaways

  • LinkedIn categorizes companies and members into industry Groups and more specifically Sub-Industries.
  • There are over 850 industry options across 8 major groups: Architecture and engineering, Business Services, Consumer Goods, Education, Media, Non-Profit, Technology, and Healthcare.
  • Choose the industry that best aligns with your target audience and business focus.
  • Your industry helps target sponsored content and tailor-feed relevance on LinkedIn.
  • You can change your industry at any time if your business evolves.

Current LinkedIn Rate Limits (October 2023)

Here are LinkedIn’s current API rate limits as of October 2023:

APILimit TypeLimit Value
Search APIRequests/hour300
Search APIConcurrent requests20
Share APIRequests/hour300
Share APIConcurrent requests20
Companies APIRequests/hour200
Companies APIConcurrent requests10
  • LinkedIn recently added over 100 new industry categories like “Digital Nomads” and “Climate Technology” to reflect emerging fields.
  • They revamped the LinkedIn algorithm in 2022 to better determine feed relevance based on members’ industry affinity.
  • There is a growing demand for more flexible industry classifications as people’s careers diversify. LinkedIn may add the ability to showcase multiple industries in the future.
  • Some experts argue LinkedIn’s industry taxonomy needs an overhaul to simplify and better organize industry segments.
  • LinkedIn now displays Industry Trending News sections that are personalized based on a member’s Industry to deliver more relevant content.

In Summary

LinkedIn’s expansive industry options allow you to accurately categorize your company. Choose the industry that best represents your business focus and customer base. The right

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What are the top industries on LinkedIn?

    The most popular industries on LinkedIn based on member volume are:
    Technology – 125M+ members
    Higher Education – 50M+ members
    Financial Services – 50M+ members
    Media – 39M members
    Marketing/Advertising – 25M members

  2. How do I change my industry on LinkedIn?

    To edit your industry on LinkedIn:
    Go to your Profile
    Click “View profile”
    Select the “Edit public profile & URL” pencil icon
    Scroll down and click your current Industry
    Search for and select your new industry
    Click “Save”

  3. Can I choose more than one industry on LinkedIn?

    You can only select one industry for your Company Page. However, on your personal profile, you can showcase up to 3 positions with different industries.

  4. What happens if my industry isn’t listed on LinkedIn?

    If your specific niche industry isn’t available, choose the closest applicable industry or sub-industry within the right group. You can contact LinkedIn to request adding a new industry.

  5. How do I change my LinkedIn URL after updating my industry?

    Your public profile URL will automatically update after you change your industry. The URL will incorporate your new industry.

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