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Industry classifications

Employers registered with the WCB are assigned to one or more industry classifications based on their primary business activities. There are approximately 175 industry classifications in Manitoba. When you register with the WCB, your business is assigned to an industry classification based on the overall kind of work you do. It is not affected by the legal structure of your business or the various occupations within your operation. 

An industry classification is made up of a group of employers who operate in a similar industry with a similar level of risk. Each industry classification is assigned a risk category that describes their cost of injuries compared to the system average. The purpose of grouping together employers into an industry classification with similar business activities and similar levels of risk is to assist in setting fair and equitable assessment rates that best reflect the collective liability of that group. 

Workers compensation insurance is a blend of collective and individual liability. This means your premium is based on a combination of the risk of potential injury costs at your workplace and the risk at workplaces with similar business activities.

Employers who require WCB coverage are classified within one or more of the sub-groups in Industry Sectors 1 – 8.  Employers in excluded industries who want to purchase optional coverage are assigned to a sub-group in Sector 9.

While the descriptions provide a brief overview of the activities in each classification, they will not include all activities.

Employers are classified according to their primary business activities. There may be sub-processes and workers with many different occupations working for one employer, but we don’t examine those for classification purposes. We are interested in determining the primary function of the business (i.e., revenue streams, end products, services provided, etc.).

For example, most companies employ administrative staff, but a separate classification is not provided for these employees. They contribute to the overall, main activity and are included that way.

In most circumstances, an employer is assigned to one industry classification. In very specific circumstances, an employer may qualify for an additional classification. For information on when businesses qualify for multiple classifications, please refer to WCB Policy 35.20.10, Classification of Employers into Sub-Groups and its administrative guidelines.

The rate risk category shown in each description reflects the current year only.  These can change from year to year based on the experience of the employers registered under these classifications.

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