Analysis
NAICS 561312 is the 2022 national industry for executive search services, part of 56131 (Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services). Census lists 5 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 5,897 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 38,564 people at an average annual payroll of $144,116 per employee (96th percentile of national industries). 77% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
By establishments it ranks 2nd of the 2 codes at this level within Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services, with 43.4% of them.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 561311, 561320, 561330 and 541611. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include executive placement consulting services, executive placement services, executive search consulting services and executive search services, among 5 in all.
For example, listing employment vacancies and in recruiting, referring, or placing applicants for employment are classified in 561311 (Employment Placement Agencies) instead.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing executive search, recruitment, and placement services for clients with specific executive and senior management position requirements. The range of services provided by these establishments may include developing a search strategy and position specification based on the culture and needs of the client; researching, identifying, screening, and interviewing candidates; verifying candidate qualifications; and assisting in final offer negotiations and assimilation of the selected candidate. The individuals identified, recruited, or placed are not employees of the executive search services establishments.
Illustrative Examples:
Senior executive search services Executive placement services Executive search services
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Listing employment vacancies and in recruiting, referring, or placing applicants for employment | 561311 Employment Placement Agencies |
| Supplying their own employees for limited periods of time to supplement the working force of a client's business | 561320 Temporary Help Services |
| Providing human resources and human resource management services to client businesses and households | 561330 Professional Employer Organizations |
| Providing administrative and general management consulting services | 541611 Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services |
| Providing advice and assistance on human resource and personnel policies, practices, and procedures; and employee benefits and compensation systems | 541612 Human Resources Consulting Services |
| Providing professional and management development training | 611430 Professional and Management Development Training |
| Representing models, entertainers, athletes, and other public figures as their agent or manager | 711410 Agents and Managers for Artists, Athletes, Entertainers, and Other Public Figures |
Index entries (5)
- Executive placement consulting services
- Executive placement services
- Executive search consulting services
- Executive search services
- Senior executive search services