SSIC: Singapore Standard Industrial Classification

SSIC 2020 has been in effect in Singapore since 2021. Though based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4, the two are not exactly aligned. SSIC 2020 contains more first-level categories (22 vs 21, because SSIC 2020 includes the Section V - Activities not adequately defined) but fewer categories at the second (81 vs 88), third (204 vs 238), and fourth levels (382 vs 419).

Changes Between SSIC 2015 (Version 2018) and SSIC 2020

In SSIC 2020, the system was trimmed as around 40 codes, mostly in the Section C (Manufacturing), were deleted because there were very few or no establishments classified under them. The fifth level of the system was renamed from Item in previous editions to Subclass in SSIC 2020. Reflecting the importance of diverse types of online marketplaces, the three-digit Group 632 (Online marketplaces) was established in the Section J (Information and communications). Five new five-digit Subclasses were also added under this Group including 63201 (Online marketplaces for goods - including food), 63202 (Online marketplaces for health services), and 63203 (Online marketplaces for education services). Other notable additions in SSIC 2020 came in the education sector with new subclasses 85240 (Schools for special needs) and 85250 (Specialized education schools) as well as the subclasses 85401-85409 covering training courses in different areas such as 85401 (Training courses for construction, real estate, security and investigation services, cleaning, landscaping, waste management and pest management). SSIC 2020 came with routine modifications to titles and definitions of categories

Structure of SSIC 2020

SSIC 2020 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by capital letters (A-V).

• Division: 81 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 204 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 382 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Subclass: 1023 Subclasses identified by five-digit numeric codes (01111-99090).

The table below shows the number of subcategories in each of the 20 divisions of SSIC 2020. Division C (Manufacturing) is the most detailed division with 355 five-digit subclasses, followed by Division I (Wholesale and retail trade) with 168 subclasses. The two divisions jointly account for just over half of all subclasses in SSIC 2020.

Resources

• SSIC 2020 (Current) - Codes list (Excel)

• SSIC 2020 (Current) - Manual

SSIC 2015-v.2018 was in effect from 2018 to 2020. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4, though the two systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 2015 and SSIC 2015-v.2018

Reflecting the growth of robotics and cybersecurity, new five-digit Items were added accordingly. In Section C (Manufacturing), the Items 28181 (Manufacture and repair of industrial robotics - including Automated Guided Vehicles, AGVs) and 28182 (Manufacture and repair of service robots) were added. Elsewhere, cybersecurity activities were established with the Items 46514 (Wholesale of cybersecurity hardware, software and peripheral equipment) and 47415 (Retail of cybersecurity hardware, software and peripheral equipment) both in Section G (Wholesale and retail trade) while in Section J (Information and communication), the Items 62014 (Development of software for cybersecurity) and 62025 (Information technology cybersecurity consultancy) were added. On the other hand, a number of Items from different sections of SSIC 2015 were deleted in SSIC 2015-v.2018. Changes also included routine clarifications to category definitions to facilitate application by users of the classification system.

Structure of SSIC 2015-v.2018

SSIC 2015_v.2018 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by capital letters (A-V).

• Division: 82 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (01-99).

• Group: 204 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 386 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1062 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2015-v.2018 - Codes list (Excel)

• SSIC 2015-v.2018 - Manual

SSIC 2015 was in operation from 2015 to 2018. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 2010 and SSIC 2015

At the highest level of the classification system, while there was no change in the number of categories, the scope of the Section D was expanded to include steam production with its title changing from Electricity, gas and air-conditioning supply in SSIC 2010 to Electricity, gas, steam and air-conditioning supply in SSIC 2015. At the detailed end of the system, some new five-digit Items were created, while existing ones with waning significance were combined. Notable additions include the Item 21030 (Manufacture of traditional Chinese medicine) in the Section C (Manufacturing) while in the Section G (Wholesale and retail trade), sales medium was accounted for with the new codes 47910 (Retail sale via internet) and 47991 (Retail sale via vending machines). In summary, the net effect of the changes at the detailed level was a reduction in the number of five-digit Items from 1097 in SSIC 2010 to 1073 in SSIC 2015.

Structure of SSIC 2015

SSIC 2015 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by capital letters (A-V).

• Division: 82 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-99).

• Group: 204 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 387 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1073 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2015 - Codes list (Excel)

• SSIC 2015 - Manual

SSIC 2010 was in operation from 2010 to 2015. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 2005 and SSIC 2010

Following the use of the Section I (Accommodation and food service activities) in SSIC 2010, the identifying letters of some sections changed, e.g. the SSIC Section K (Information and communications) became Section J (Information and communications). There were changes in both the letter codes and names of some sections such as the SSIC 2005 Section M (Real estate, rental and leasing activities) becoming the Section L (Real estate activities) in SSIC 2010. While the number of sections is the same in SSIC 2005 and SSIC 2010, there number of codes at other levels of the system increased in SSIC 2010, most substantially at the second, third and fourth levels of the system. At the detailed end of the system, a number of new five-digit Items were established, notable among which were the sustainability-related ones. The emergence of renewable energy production was reflected in different sections of SSIC 2010 such as Section C (Manufacturing) with new Items including 20298 (Manufacture of biofuels), 26114 (Manufacture of solar wafers), and 28194 (Manufacture and repair of solar modules and panels); Section D with the new item 35102 (Generation of electricity by other sources - e.g. solar power, biofuels etc); and Section M (Professional, scientific and technical activities) with the new Items 71123 (Engineering services in clean energy systems - e.g. solar photovoltaics) and 72106 (Research and experimental development on environment and clean technologies). In the Section S (Other service activities) of SSIC 2010, environmental activism was reflected in the new Item 94995 (Organizations for the Protection of the Environment and Animals).

Structure of SSIC 2010

SSIC 2010 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by capital letters (A-V).

• Division: 82 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-99).

• Group: 204 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 388 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1097 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2010 - Manual

SSIC 2005 was in operation from 2005 to 2010. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 2000 and SSIC 2005

In line with the change in the global standard form ISIC Rev. 3 to ISIC Rev. 4, the broad Sections were significantly reorganized with the number of categories at this level also increasing from 18 in SSIC 2000 to 22 in SSIC 2005. The SSIC 2000 Sections A (Agriculture and forestry) and B (Fishing) were merged to form the SSIC 2005 Section A (Agriculture and fishing). Some other new sections in SSIC 2005 were the Section E (Water supply, sewerage and waste management) and Section K (Information and communications) which respectively combined environment- and information/communication-related categories from across SSIC 2000. The increase in the number of Sections consequently led to an increase in the number categories at all other levels of SSIC 2005. At the most detailed level, a number of new five-digit Items were created across different sections including the Items 25295 (Manufacture of photographic film, paper, plate and chemicals), 61300 (Sound recording production and distribution), 63903 (Web search portals), 93023 (Beauty salons and spa - including slimming centers), and 93024 (Manicure and pedicure services).

Structure of SSIC 2005

SSIC 2005 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 22 Sections identified by capital letters (A-V).

• Division: 64 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-99).

• Group: 164 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 331 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1089 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2005 - Manual

SSIC 2000 operated from 2000 to 2005. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 3, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 1996 and SSIC 2000

The detailed sections of the system expanded significantly in SSIC 2000 in accordance with industrial and socioeconomic developments in Singapore. In Section D (Manufacturing), semiconductor related activities were given more detail with the new Items 29271 (Manufacture of probe cards) and 29272 (Manufacture of binding tools) while Section I (Transport, storage and communications) included new Items for providers of internet services in 64221 (Internet access providers - including ISPs), 64222 (Third party telecommunications/value-added network operators), 64223 (Web hosting services), and 64224 (Cyber cafes). In the Section J (Financial Intermediation), detail was added for fund management activities with the new items 65951 (Venture capital companies) and 65953 (Property fund management - including REITs). Elsewhere, the business activities part of Section K (Real estate, renting and business activities) had the new Items 72201 (Development of e-commerce applications), 74996 (Credit rating agencies), and 74997 (Call centers) while health services were added to the Section N (Health and social work) with the new items 85194 (Clinical trial management services) and 85196 (Home healthcare services).

Structure of SSIC 2000

SSIC 2000 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 18 Sections identified by capital letters (A-R).

• Division: 54 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-99).

• Group: 152 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 323 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1072 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2000 - Manual

SSIC 1996 was in force from 1997 to 2000. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 3, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 1990 and SSIC 1996

In SSIC 1996 the coding and names of three of the five classification level were changed. The name of first level of the system changed from Major Division in previous versions to Section and identified by alphabets rather than numbers. The name of the third level changed from Major Group to Group and the fourth level from Group to Class. In line with ISIC Rev. 3, the number of first level categories also increased from 10 in SSIC 1990 to 18 in SSIC 1996. There was also a significant increase in the number of categories at the most detailed level of the system to account for emerging industries in Singapore at the time.

Structure of SSIC 1996

SSIC 1996 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Section: 18 Sections identified by capital letters (A-R).

• Division: 55 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-99).

• Group: 155 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (011-990).

• Class: 317 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0111-9909).

• Item: 1024 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-99090).

Resources

• SSIC 2000 Manual lists SSIC 1996 codes along with the SSIC 2000 codes.

SSIC 1990 was in force from 1990 to 1996. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 2, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 1986 and SSIC 1990

SSIC 1990 added more detail to different aspects of the agricultural sector with new Items such as 11172 (Ornamental plants) and 11173 (Tissue culture plantlets), 11231 (Dog breeding), 11232 (Bird breeding), and 13102 (Agrotechnological consultancy services). Notable changes in SSIC 1990 also included the reorganization of the groups and items in the Major Division 5 (Construction) as well as activities in Division 81 (Financial Institutions) to enhance the applicability of the codes at three-digit level.

Structure of SSIC 1990

SSIC 1990 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 10 Major Divisions identified by one-digit numeric codes (0-9).

• Division: 32 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (11-96).

• Major Group: 117 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (111-969).

• Group: 317 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (1111-9690).

• Item: 945 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-96900).

Resources

• SSIC 1990 - Manual

SSIC 1986 was in force from 1987 to 1990. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 2, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 1978 and SSIC 1986

In SSIC 1986, the system received further refinements at the more detailed levels to reflecting Singapore's evolving economic structure. New codes were added for an extensive variety of goods and services across the Major Division 6 (Commerce), Major Division 8 (Financing, insurance, real estate and business services) and Major Division 9 (Community, social and personal services). A notable development in SSIC 1986 had to do with ownership type as a classification criterion as the distinction between public and private establishments involved in the same activity was removed. This implied, for example, that, the SSIC 1978 items for government agencies like 83101 (Housing and Development Board), 83102 (Urban Redevelopment Authority), and 83103 (Jurong Town Corporation) were in SSIC 1986 subsumed along with private organizations under the Item 83110 (Real estate developers). Emerging activities of that period of Singapore's industrial and socioeconomic history were included with new five-digit Items such as 61175 (Musical instruments, record albums and tapes), 81603 (Credit card services), 83422 (Software development - including software maintenance), and 93322 (Centers for senior citizens).

Structure of SSIC 1986

SSIC 1986 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 10 Major Divisions identified by one-digit numeric codes (0-9).

• Division: 31 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (11-96).

• Major Group: 119 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (111-969).

• Group: 310 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (1111-9690).

• Item: 892 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-96900).

Resources

• SSIC 1986 - Manual

SSIC 1978 was in force from 1979 to 1986. It was based on the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 2, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Changes Between SSIC 1973 and SSIC 1978

Apart from refinements at the detailed levels, SSIC 1978 does not differ extensively from SSIC 1973, both of which were patterned basically after ISIC Rev. 2. New categories for several goods and services were added mostly to the Major Division 3 (Manufacturing), Major Division 6 (Commerce), Major Division 7 (Transport, Storage and Communications), and Major Division 8 (Financing, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services). Another highlight of the changes in SSIC 1978 affecting mostly the Divisions 31-33 was that productive activities done in households or other non-factory settings no longer have separate categories as was the case in SSIC 1973. Changes also included the transfer of insignificant industries to the residual category such as the SSIC 1973 Item 39094 (Manufacture of brooms, brushes, and related products) which was moved to the SSIC 1978 Item 39099 (Other manufacturing industries, n.e.c.).

Structure of SSIC 1978

SSIC 1978 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 10 Major Divisions identified by one-digit numeric codes (0-9).

• Division: 32 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (11-96).

• Major Group: 106 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (111-969).

• Group: 265 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (1111-9690).

• Item: 715 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-96900).

Resources

• SSIC 1978 - Manual

SSIC 1973 was in force from 1973 to 1978. It was based on the https://classification.codes/classifications/industry/isic, though both systems are not exactly aligned.

Structure of SSIC 1973

SSIC 1973 was structured into five classification levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 10 Major Divisions identified by one-digit numeric codes (0-9).

• Division: 31 Divisions identified by two-digit numeric codes (00-96).

• Major Group: 105 Groups identified by three-digit numeric codes (000-969).

• Group: 245 Classes identified by four-digit numeric codes (0000-9690).

• Item: 596 Items identified by five-digit numeric codes (00000-96900).

Versions prior to SSIC 1973

The SSIC was first published in 1958 and was based on ISIC Rev. 1. It was followed by revisions in 1966, also based on ISIC Rev. 1, and in 1969 based on ISIC Rev. 2.

Resources

• SSIC 1973 - Manual