LinkedIn allows users to select their industry when creating their profile. The industry options on LinkedIn aim to cover all major industries, functions, and focuses. As of October 2023, there are over 130 different industry options on LinkedIn.
Why does LinkedIn have industry options?
LinkedIn includes industry options for several key reasons:
- To help users find the right connections – Selecting an industry makes it easier for recruiters, hiring managers, and other professionals in your industry to find you.
- To personalize the experience – LinkedIn uses the industry information to show users more relevant content, jobs, groups, and advertisements.
- To provide better analytics – The industry data allows LinkedIn to analyze trends across industries, functions, and regions.
- To simplify searching and filtering – The categorized industry options make it easier to search for and filter profiles by industry.
Overall, the industry options aim to improve the experience on LinkedIn for all users.
What are the top level industry categories on LinkedIn?
LinkedIn groups the various industry options into the following 14 top level categories:
- Business Services
- Consumer Goods
- Education
- Energy & Mining
- Finance
- Government, Nonprofit & Public Service
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
- Retail & Consumer Products
- Technology
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics
- Wellness & Fitness
Within each top level category there are more specific sub-industries. For example, under Technology there are sub-industries like Internet, Computer Software, IT Services, and more. The top categories provide a way to group related industries together on LinkedIn.
What are some of the most common industry options on LinkedIn?
Here are some of the most frequently used industry options based on LinkedIn data:
Industry | Category |
---|---|
Information Technology & Services | Technology |
Financial Services | Finance |
Higher Education | Education |
Staffing & Recruiting | Business Services |
Computer Software | Technology |
Hospital & Health Care | Healthcare |
Accounting | Finance |
Banking | Finance |
Management Consulting | Business Services |
Internet | Technology |
As you can see, Technology, Finance, Business Services, Healthcare, and Education represent some of the most commonly selected industries on LinkedIn.
What are some uncommon industry options?
While the list is dominated by major industries like Technology and Finance, LinkedIn also includes more niche or uncommon industry categories such as:
- Civic & Social Organization
- Legislative Office
- Translation & Localization
- Market Research
- Packaging & Containers
- Performing Arts
- Textiles
- Religious Institutions
- Wireless
- Industrial Automation
These less common options ensure professionals in all industries are represented on LinkedIn, beyond just the largest sectors.
How often does LinkedIn update the industry options?
LinkedIn refreshes its industry categories approximately once per year to add new options and retire outdated ones. This ensures the industry list stays current and aligned with the actual labor market.
For example, in recent years LinkedIn has added emerging industries like:
- Computer Games
- E-Learning
- Renewables & Environment
- Virtual Reality
At the same time, industries like “Newspapers” have been retired as they declined in relevance. LinkedIn uses data on user profiles along with labor market trends to inform any updates to the industry options.
How does LinkedIn determine which industries to include?
LinkedIn uses both quantitative and qualitative factors to determine which industries should be included as options, such as:
- User data – How many LinkedIn members are currently selecting an industry?
- Market size and growth – What is the current and projected size of the industry?
- Search volume – How often are users searching for certain industries on LinkedIn?
- Quality and clarity – Is the industry name clear, understandable, and sufficiently differentiated from other options?
- Member requests – Have LinkedIn members requested that a particular industry be added?
Sources like government labor and occupation data as well as input from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph team are also used to identify relevant industries.
What are some tips for selecting your LinkedIn industry?
When choosing your industry on LinkedIn, keep the following tips in mind:
- Select your primary or most relevant industry – Don’t select multiple industries unless you truly work across them.
- Use your current industry, even if you’re open to other areas.
- Go for the more specific industries when possible.
- Check both the parent industry and the available sub-industries.
- Don’t agonize over the decision – Pick the best option available even if not a perfect fit.
- You can always change it later if needed.
How can you find more niche or emerging industries?
If you don’t see an industry that fits your role, here are some tips to find more options:
- Review the full list of industries alphabetically.
- Try searching by keyword.
- Check the sub-industries under the broader parent categories.
- Consider selecting a parent industry if no sub-industry applies.
- Revisit your selection every few months as LinkedIn adds new industries.
Searching alphabetically and using keywords like “Blockchain” or “Sustainability” can surface new and emerging industries on LinkedIn.
Can you request LinkedIn add a missing industry?
Yes, LinkedIn members can request adding industries by reaching out to customer service. Here’s how:
- Go to the LinkedIn Help Center.
- Search for “Suggest changes to LinkedIn features.”
- Select the article “Suggest changes to LinkedIn features.”
- Scroll down and click “Send suggestion.”
- Complete the form to request a new industry.
LinkedIn reviews these requests when evaluating changes to industries. Members can also submit feedback through LinkedIn’s user research surveys and programs.
Conclusion
LinkedIn aims to provide industry options that represent nearly every profession while keeping the list relevant and manageable. Frequent updates based on user data and labor market trends help LinkedIn’s industries stay current.
While the list continues to evolve, it provides a valuable way for members to specify their industry, connect with relevant professionals, get personalized content, and be discovered by recruiters in their field.