industry

industry · Not mentioned by Google

Appears in

JobPosting

What is it?

The industry or sector associated with the job position. This can be a plain text string like "Computer Software" or a structured DefinedTerm referencing an official classification system like NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). Google does not use this field for job search rich results.

Why this matters for AEO

AI assistants use industry classification to answer sector level queries. When someone asks "What industries are hiring data scientists?" or "Show me finance industry job openings," the industry field provides explicit categorization. Without it, AI engines must infer the industry from the job description and company name, which is less reliable. For companies operating across multiple sectors, explicit industry tagging prevents misclassification.

What the specs say

Schema.org:DefinedTerm or Text. The industry associated with the job position. schema.org/industry

Google: Not listed in Google's structured data documentation for JobPosting. Google Search Central

How to find your value

• Company profile — The industry classification on LinkedIn or Crunchbase
• NAICS code — Census.gov NAICS lookup for the formal sector code
• SIC code — The Standard Industrial Classification from SEC filings
• Job description — The sector mentioned in the role summary

For maximum precision, use a DefinedTerm with the NAICS code. For simplicity, a plain text string works for most implementations.

Format and code

Type: Text or DefinedTerm

Plain text:

{
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "title": "Software Engineer",
  "industry": "Computer Software"
}

Structured DefinedTerm with NAICS code:

{
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "title": "Systems Research Engineer",
  "industry": {
    "@type": "DefinedTerm",
    "termCode": "511210",
    "name": "Software Publishers",
    "url": "https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=511210",
    "inDefinedTermSet": {
      "@type": "DefinedTermSet",
      "name": "NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)"
    }
  }
}

The DefinedTerm approach provides machine readable precision. The plain text approach is simpler and sufficient when formal classification is not needed.

Webflow implementation

Static pages

Add the industry as plain text in your JSON-LD:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "title": "Marketing Manager",
  "industry": "Digital Marketing"
}
</script>

CMS template pages

Use a plain text or option field:

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "industry": "{{wf {&quot;path&quot;:&quot;industry&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;PlainText&quot;} }}"
}
</script>

An Option field with predefined industry values ensures consistency across listings.

In Schema HQ

Field mapping pulls CMS industry field into the JSON-LD output. For sites using NAICS codes, it can build the full DefinedTerm structure from a code lookup.

Real examples

Schema.org (schema.org/JobPosting):

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "title": "Software Engineer",
  "industry": "Computer Software",
  "employmentType": "Full-time",
  "datePosted": "2011-10-31",
  "hiringOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "ABC Company Inc."
  }
}

Schema.org DefinedTerm example (schema.org/JobPosting):

{
  "@type": "JobPosting",
  "title": "Systems Research Engineer",
  "industry": {
    "@type": "DefinedTerm",
    "termCode": "511210",
    "name": "Software Publishers",
    "url": "https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=511210",
    "inDefinedTermSet": {
      "@type": "DefinedTermSet",
      "name": "NAICS (North American Industry Classification System)"
    }
  }
}

Web Data Commons analysis shows industry appears in 39% of JSON-LD JobPostings and 21% of Microdata examples.

Related fields

• title: the position within this industry
• hiringOrganization: the company operating in this industry
• employmentType: the arrangement type common to the industry
• baseSalary: compensation often benchmarked by industry

FAQ

Does Google use the industry field for job search?

No. Google does not list industry in its JobPosting structured data documentation. The field has no effect on Google job search rich results. It is useful for AI engines and third party job aggregators that parse schema.org data, but it does not influence Google's indexing or display.

Should I use plain text or a DefinedTerm?

For most Webflow sites, plain text is sufficient. Use DefinedTerm with NAICS codes when the job board serves regulated industries, government contracts, or enterprise recruiting platforms that require standardized classification.