Creative Sector: Literary & Publishing Industry

The Literary and Publishing industry brings ideas, stories, knowledge, and imagination to life through the written and spoken word. It includes the writers, editors, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, educators, and supporting professionals who create, produce, distribute, and promote books, publications, and literary programming. Through sales, employment, publishing activity, and public events, the industry contributes to the regional economy while strengthening cultural expression, education, community identity, and connection.

The Segments within the Literary & Publishing Industry

The Literary and Publishing industry is organized into distinct segments that group related disciplines, professions, organizations, and business activities within the larger field. Each segment represents a different way written and spoken works are created, edited, published, distributed, presented, and supported, while also showing how writers, publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, and readers connect across the industry. Breaking the industry into segments creates a clearer framework for understanding its structure, identifying shared needs, and examining the economic and cultural role of each area in greater detail.

NAICS Codes & Disciplines

North American Industry Classification System, or NAICS, codes are standardized categories used by government agencies, researchers, and economic development organizations to classify business activity and measure employment, revenue, and industry growth. Including these codes helps connect the Literary and Publishing industry to established economic data and provides a consistent way to understand how literary creation, publishing, distribution, and related business activity appear within the broader economy.

The disciplines listed alongside each NAICS code show the range of literary practices, professions, and activities that make up the industry. This distinction is important because a single economic classification may include several literary and publishing disciplines, while some disciplines may span more than one code. Presenting both creates a clearer picture of how the industry is structured, how literary and publishing work is counted, and where individual practitioners and organizations fit within the larger Creative Sector.

Theater & Dramatic Arts: