NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Ocala, FL

Metro Market Score 48.4 (Challenging), ranked #104 of 298 metros. 658 establishments, 12,016 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 48.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

📈Rapid Growth⚡Rising Wages

Ocala ranks in the upper half for accommodation and food services market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 48.4, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
62.4
LQ: 1.11
Rank #186 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
59.4
$26,092 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 90.3
Employment growth index
Rank #30 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
75.1
YoY wage change index

658 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Ocala

658
Establishments
+1.9% YoY
12,016
Total Employment
+4.0% YoY
$26,092
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY
1.11
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Ocala vs Florida Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Florida overall. The state ranks #44/51 for entry risk.

Measure Ocala FL Statewide
Overall Score 48.4 Challenging 53.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #104 of 298 metros #44 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 Ocala

Finance and Insurance 27.9 Other Services 28.9 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 29.8 Information 30.8 Construction 36.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 39.6 Healthcare and Social Assistance 47.4 Administrative and Support Services 57.8 Retail Trade 73.6

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Florida Metros

Sebring 51.5 #127/298 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville 57.6 #169/298 Cape Coral-Fort Myers 60.2 #187/298 Jacksonville 60.2 #188/298 Punta Gorda 60.6 #194/298 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach 61.6 #203/298 Lakeland-Winter Haven 62.6 #212/298 Naples-Marco Island 63.3 #216/298 Tallahassee 66.3 #235/298 Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor 68.5 #249/298

+ 9 more metros. View all in Florida →

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 Ocala's accommodation and food services sector, the industry concentration component (62.4) 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.