Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing Services; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

The real estate, rental, and leasing sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in renting, leasing, or otherwise allowing the use of tangible or intangible assets and establishments providing related services. The major portion of this sector comprises establishments that rent, lease, or otherwise allow the use of their own assets by others. The assets may be tangible, as is the case with real estate and equipment. Or, assets may be intangible, as is the case with patents and trademarks.

This sector also includes establishments primarily engaged in managing real estate for others; selling, renting, and/or buying real estate for others; and appraising real estate. In addition, a substantial proportion of property management is self-performed by lessors.

The main components of this sector are the real estate lessors industries, equipment lessors industries (including motor vehicles, computers, and consumer goods), and lessors of nonfinancial intangible assets (excluding copyrighted works).

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector comprises establishments that specialize in performing professional, scientific, and technical activities for others. These activities require a high degree of expertise and training. The establishments in this sector specialize according to expertise and provide these services to clients in a variety of industries and, in some cases, to households. Activities performed include: legal advice and representation; accounting, bookkeeping, and payroll services; architectural, engineering, and specialized design services; computer services; consulting services; research services; advertising services; photographic services; translation and interpretation services; veterinary services; and other professional, scientific, and technical services.