Industry Categories On LinkedIn: How to Pick the Right One

Written By Alex Cherry

Choosing the right LinkedIn industry is crucial for your sales and networking, finding new connections, building meaningful relationships, and acquiring new customers on LinkedIn. The platform offers two types of profiles: professional and industry. A professional profile allows you to list your skills, experience, education, etc., while an industry profile allows connecting with people with a similar interest in your field. LinkedIn has 148 industries and choosing the right ones can be difficult. Therefore, in this article, we will share the list of industries available on LinkedIn so that you know which niche best fits your skill set.

Industry Categories on LinkedIn

Before we get into the complete list of LinkedIn industry list, here are the top 10 industries (as of August 2022) comprising 27% of all profiles on the network. 

  1. Information Technology and Services
  2. Hospital and Health Care
  3. Construction
  4. Retail
  5. Education Management
  6. Financial Services
  7. Accounting
  8. Computer Software
  9. Higher Education
  10. Automotive

Why is the LinkedIn industry category important for you?

LinkedIn is often considered a professional social network, but it’s more than that. It’s a powerful marketing and sales tool for companies to engage with prospects, clients, and employees. Choosing the right niche is the core of any successful sales and marketing strategy. Narrowing it down to more specific will make it easier for you to generate leads.

The best way to build authority is by sharing value with the help of content and opinions with the audience in your niche. This will help you connect and grow with potential customers who would be interested in what you have to offer them.

Complete list of industries on LinkedIn

  1. Information Technology and Services
  2. Hospital and Health Care
  3. Construction
  4. Retail
  5. Education Management
  6. Financial Services
  7. Accounting
  8. Computer Software
  9. Higher Education
  10. Automotive
  11. Government Administration
  12. Marketing and Advertising
  13. Banking
  14. Health, Wellness and Fitness
  15. Real Estate
  16. Food & Beverages
  17. Telecommunications
  18. Oil & Energy
  19. Hospitality
  20. Mechanical or Industrial Engineering
  21. Primary/Secondary Education
  22. Internet
  23. Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing
  24. Insurance
  25. Medical Practice
  26. Human Resources
  27. Consumer Services
  28. Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
  29. Pharmaceuticals
  30. Restaurants
  31. Management Consulting
  32. Civil Engineering
  33. Research
  34. Design
  35. Logistics and Supply Chain
  36. Law Practice
  37. Architecture & Planning
  38. Apparel & Fashion
  39. Consumer Goods
  40. Facilities Services
  41. Food Production
  42. Non-Profit Organization Management
  43. Machinery
  44. Entertainment
  45. Chemicals
  46. Wholesale
  47. Arts and Crafts
  48. Utilities
  49. Farming
  50. Legal Services
  51. Mining & Metals
  52. Airlines/Aviation
  53. Leisure, Travel & Tourism
  54. Sports
  55. Building Materials
  56. Environmental Services
  57. Professional Training & Coaching
  58. Medical Devices
  59. Music
  60. Individual and Family Services
  61. Cosmetics
  62. Mental Health Care
  63. Industrial Automation
  64. Security and Investigations
  65. Staffing and Recruiting
  66. Aviation & Aerospace
  67. Graphic Design
  68. Biotechnology
  69. Textiles
  70. Import and Export
  71. Consumer Electronics
  72. Public Relations and Communications
  73. Broadcast Media
  74. Business Supplies and Equipment
  75. Writing and Editing
  76. Military
  77. Media Production
  78. Computer Networking
  79. International Trade and Development
  80. Renewables and Environment
  81. Events Services
  82. Civic and Social Organizations
  83. Photography
  84. Computer Hardware
  85. Defense & Space
  86. Furniture
  87. Computer and Network Security
  88. Printing
  89. Fine Art
  90. Investment Management
  91. E-Learning
  92. Outsourcing/Offshoring
  93. Warehousing
  94. Law Enforcement
  95. Publishing
  96. Religious Institutions
  97. Maritime
  98. Information Services
  99. Supermarkets
  100. Executive Office
  101. Animations
  102. Government Relations
  103. Semiconductors
  104. Program Development
  105. Plastics
  106. Online Media
  107. Public Safety
  108. Packaging and Containers
  109. Judiciary
  110. Alternative Medicine
  111. Performing Arts
  112. Commercial Real Estate
  113. Motion Pictures and Film
  114. Veterinary
  115. Computer Games
  116. Luxury Goods & Jewelry
  117. International Affairs
  118. Investment Banking
  119. Market Research
  120. Wine and Spirits
  121. Package/Freight Delivery
  122. Newspapers
  123. Translation and Localization
  124. Recreational Facilities and Services
  125. Sporting Goods
  126. Public Policy
  127. Capital Markets
  128. Paper & Forest Products
  129. Libraries
  130. Wireless
  131. Venture Capital & Private Equity
  132. Gambling and Casinos
  133. Ranching
  134. Glass, Ceramic and Concrete
  135. Philanthropy
  136. Dairy
  137. Museums and Institutions
  138. Shipbuilding
  139. Think Tanks
  140. Political Organization
  141. Fishery
  142. Fund-Raising
  143. Tobacco
  144. Railroad Manufacture
  145. Alternative Dispute Resolution
  146. Nanotechnology
  147. Legislative Office
  148. Mobile Games

Number of industries based on the type of LinkedIn subscription

LinkedIn and Recruit members can filter leads and accounts based on 148 industries which cover generic industries. Whereas Sales Navigator members have 413 industries that include both generic and sub-industries. This means that Sales Navigator subscribers can take their targeting to the next level and filter leads and accounts more accurately. Also, while choosing an industry for your LinkedIn profile or company page, you choose among the 413 industries from the Sales Navigator list.

Which industry is better, small, or big?

Both big and small industries have their benefits. Choosing a big industry will help you to be more visible. You will also have the opportunity to get exposure to a wider audience and also have a higher profile exposure because these industries are popular with many people on LinkedIn. On the other hand, a small industry is good if you want to focus on one specific niche. You can check out what types of profiles exist under each category to pick a career path that best suits your skill set and interests.

Key Takeaways

Setting up your LinkedIn profile is the first step towards a positive LinkedIn experience, whether using the platform to network or generate leads. Choose the right industry based on your skills and expertise while creating your profile or change the industry category (if you have already created your LinkedIn profile). This will help you reach the right audience and connect with like-minded people. We have covered all the industries available on LinkedIn and the significance of choosing the right industry. Hope this article will help you decide on the right industry for you based on your skills.