Analysis
NAICS 541612 is the 2022 national industry for human resources consulting services, part of 54161 (Management Consulting Services). Census lists 11 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 8,526 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 134,151 people at an average annual payroll of $96,006 per employee (81st percentile of national industries). 75% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 18% and employment fell 0%. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include actuarial consulting services (except insurance actuarial…, benefit consulting services, compensation consulting services and compensation planning services, among 11 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 611430, 561311 and 561312. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, providing professional and management development training are classified in 611430 (Professional and Management Development Training) instead.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to businesses and other organizations in one or more of the following areas: (1) human resource and personnel policies, practices, and procedures; (2) employee benefits planning, communication, and administration; (3) compensation systems planning; and (4) wage and salary administration.
Illustrative Examples:
Benefit or compensation consulting services Employee assessment consulting services Personnel management consulting services Human resources consulting services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing professional and management development training | 611430 Professional and Management Development Training |
| Listing employment vacancies and recruiting, referring, and placing applicants in employment | 561311 Employment Placement Agencies |
| Providing executive search, recruitment, and placement services | 561312 Executive Search Services |
Index entries (11)
- Actuarial consulting services (except insurance actuarial services)
- Benefit consulting services
- Compensation consulting services
- Compensation planning services
- Employee assessment consulting services
- Employee benefit consulting services
- Employee compensation consulting services
- Human resource consulting services
- Labor relations consulting services
- Organization development consulting services
- Personnel management consulting services