Analysis
NAICS 5231 is the 2022 industry group for securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage, part of 523 (Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities). Census lists 56 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 27,442 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 381,108 people at an average annual payroll of $286,839 per employee (100th percentile of national industries). 72% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Across its national industries Census lists 56 index entries; typical ones are banking, investment and brokerages, commodity contracts.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 4% and employment rose 7%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
By establishments it ranks 2nd of the 3 codes at this level within Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities, with 24.1% of them.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in putting capital at risk in the process of underwriting securities issues or in making markets for securities and commodities; and those acting as agents and/or brokers between buyers and sellers of securities and commodities, usually charging a commission.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (56)
- Banking, investment
- Brokerages, commodity contracts