Analysis
NAICS 237 is the 2022 subsector for heavy and civil engineering construction, part of 23 (Construction). Census lists 211 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 38,612 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 1,051,261 people at an average annual payroll of $91,313 per employee (79th percentile of national industries). 46% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 3rd of the 3 codes at this level within Construction, with 4.7% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 211 index entries; typical ones are aqueduct construction, compressor, metering and pumping station, gas and oil…, alternative energy (e.g., geothermal, ocean wave, solar… and building lot subdividing.
It splits into 4 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 2371 (Utility System Construction) with 20,109.
Its more detailed codes are 2371 Utility System Construction (20,109 establishments), 2372 Land Subdivision (4,441 establishments), 2373 Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction (9,256 establishments) and 2379 Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (4,806 establishments).
Official definition
The Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector comprises establishments whose primary activity is the construction of entire engineering projects (e.g., highways and dams), and specialty trade contractors, whose primary activity is the production of a specific component for such projects. Specialty trade contractors in the Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction subsector generally are performing activities that are specific to heavy and civil engineering construction projects and are not normally performed on buildings. The work performed may include new work, additions, alterations, or maintenance and repairs.
Specialty trade activities are classified in this subsector if the skills and equipment present are specific to heavy or civil engineering construction projects. For example, specialized equipment is needed to paint lines on highways. This equipment is not normally used in building applications so the activity is classified in this subsector. Traffic signal installation, while specific to highways, uses much of the same skills and equipment that are needed for electrical work in building projects and is therefore classified in Subsector 238, Specialty Trade Contractors.
Construction projects involving water resources (e.g., dredging and land drainage) and projects involving open space improvement (e.g., parks and trails) are included in this subsector. Establishments whose primary activity is the subdivision of land into individual building lots usually perform various additional site-improvement activities (e.g., road building and utility line installation) and are included in this subsector.
Establishments in this subsector are classified based on the types of structures that they construct. This classification reflects variations in the requirements of the underlying production processes.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (211)
- Aqueduct construction
- Compressor, metering and pumping station, gas and oil pipeline, construction
- Alternative energy (e.g., geothermal, ocean wave, solar, wind) structure construction
- Building lot subdividing
- Abutment construction
- Anchored earth retention contractors