NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Gadsden, AL

Metro Market Score 55.7 (Challenging), ranked #159 of 298 metros. 210 establishments, 3,561 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 55.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national accommodation and food services average.

⚡Rising Wages

Gadsden scores 55.7 on the Metro Market Score for accommodation and food services, placing it in the lower half. High wage costs, strong existing competition, or slowing growth contribute to tougher entry conditions compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
74.8
LQ: 1.19
Rank #223 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
10.1
$20,496 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 34.2
Employment growth index
Rank #197 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
73.7
YoY wage change index

210 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Gadsden

210
Establishments
+1.0% YoY
3,561
Total Employment
-0.6% YoY
$20,496
Average Annual Wage
+4.2% YoY
1.19
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Gadsden vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #37/51 for entry risk.

Measure Gadsden AL Statewide
Overall Score 55.7 Challenging 44.1 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #159 of 298 metros #37 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Gadsden

Construction 14.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 28.8 Finance and Insurance 29.2 Information 35.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 35.5 Administrative and Support Services 39.0 Retail Trade 41.9 Other Services 42.3 Healthcare and Social Assistance 48.8

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Alabama Metros

Huntsville 30.1 #15/298 Florence-Muscle Shoals 40.7 #53/298 Anniston-Oxford 41.8 #58/298 Birmingham 43.8 #73/298 Mobile 52.5 #133/298 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 58.2 #171/298

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Gadsden's accommodation and food services sector, the employment growth component (65.8) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.