NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA

Metro Market Score 33.8 (Favorable), ranked #25 of 298 metros. 1,701 establishments, 31,516 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 33.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

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

📈Rapid Growth🌱Emerging Market

Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks in the top 10% for accommodation and food services market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 33.8, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
17.8
LQ: 0.86
Rank #53 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
58.0
$25,961 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 93.6
Employment growth index
Rank #20 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
64.8
YoY wage change index

1,701 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Des Moines-West Des Moines

1,701
Establishments
+6.7% YoY
31,516
Total Employment
+5.0% YoY
$25,961
Average Annual Wage
+1.6% YoY
0.86
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Des Moines-West Des Moines vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #29/51 for entry risk.

Measure Des Moines-West Des Moines IA Statewide
Overall Score 33.8 Favorable 39.0 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #25 of 298 metros #29 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines

Retail Trade 34.7 Information 51.6 Construction 52.9 Other Services 53.0 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 55.5 Finance and Insurance 60.0

Accommodation and Food Services in Other Iowa Metros

Dubuque 24.7 #5/298 Ames 26.3 #7/298 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 32.7 #22/298 Cedar Rapids 34.4 #28/298 Sioux City 42.9 #65/298 Iowa City 44.5 #80/298 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 57.3 #167/298

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 Des Moines-West Des Moines's accommodation and food services sector, the wage competitiveness component (58.0) 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.