NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 23.4 (Low), ranked #2 of 51 states. 26,325 establishments, 458,788 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 23.4
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Low Risk

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

🛡️Stable Market

North Carolina exhibits structural stability in accommodation and food services, with volatility at 16.2 and firm retention ranking in the top 10. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
88.2%
Percentile within industry
Rank #7 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
49.7
Scale of 0-100
Rank #19 of 51 states
Establishment Density
25.3
vs. national average
Rank #30 of 51 states
Market Volatility
16.2
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
28.0
Labor cost pressure

26,325 Establishments in North Carolina

26,325
Establishments
+1.0% YoY
458,788
Total Employment
+1.3% YoY
$25,303
Average Annual Wage
+3.4% YoY

North Carolina vs National Accommodation and Food Services Average

How North Carolina's accommodation and food services market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 23.4 40.0 -16.6
5-Year Retention 88.2% 51.0% +37.2
Growth Momentum 49.7 41.1 +8.6
Market Volatility 16.2 23.9 -7.7
Establishment Density 25.3 27.0 -1.7
Wage Pressure 28.0 33.4 -5.4

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within accommodation and food services only.

North Carolina Ranks #2 of 51 for Accommodation and Food Services

North Carolina ranks #2 out of 51 states for accommodation and food services market entry conditions.

Accommodation and Food Services Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Delaware 19.8 low
#2 North Carolina You 23.4 low
#3 New Mexico 24.5 low
#4 Idaho 26.2 low
#5 Wisconsin 28.2 low
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 31.6 · #14 Alabama — 44.1 · #37 Arkansas — 36.9 · #26 Arizona — 46.9 · #40 California — 57.2 · #47 Colorado — 46.9 · #41 Connecticut — 37.3 · #27 District of Columbia — 81.4 · #51 Delaware — 19.8 · #1 Florida — 53.6 · #44 Georgia — 43.6 · #35 Hawaii — 66.1 · #50 Iowa — 39.0 · #29 Idaho — 26.2 · #4 Illinois — 39.5 · #30 Indiana — 37.9 · #28 Kansas — 34.2 · #18 Kentucky — 36.9 · #25 Louisiana — 43.8 · #36 Massachusetts — 28.4 · #7 Maryland — 31.7 · #15 Maine — 55.0 · #46 Michigan — 29.2 · #10 Minnesota — 34.9 · #19 Missouri — 47.2 · #42 Mississippi — 35.6 · #21 Montana — 46.1 · #39 North Carolina — 23.4 · #2 North Dakota — 29.5 · #12 Nebraska — 41.5 · #31 New Hampshire — 28.8 · #8 New Jersey — 43.3 · #34 New Mexico — 24.5 · #3 Nevada — 64.0 · #49 New York — 58.6 · #48 Ohio — 29.3 · #11 Oklahoma — 35.0 · #20 Oregon — 42.8 · #32 Pennsylvania — 36.8 · #24 Rhode Island — 28.3 · #6 South Carolina — 29.2 · #9 South Dakota — 36.7 · #23 Tennessee — 29.5 · #13 Texas — 46.0 · #38 Utah — 36.5 · #22 Virginia — 33.6 · #16 Vermont — 51.0 · #43 Washington — 42.9 · #33 Wisconsin — 28.2 · #5 West Virginia — 33.7 · #17 Wyoming — 55.0 · #45
Low Moderate Elevated High

Tap a state to view details

About Entry Risk Score: A weighted composite of firm retention, growth momentum, market volatility, establishment density, and wage pressure. Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: February 2026. Next refresh expected: Q2 2026 (BLS QCEW update).

Compare to Another State

How does North Carolina stack up against other states for accommodation and food services?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Accommodation and Food Services in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's accommodation and food services market compares to bordering states.

South Carolina 29.2 #9/51 Tennessee 29.5 #13/51 Virginia 33.6 #16/51 Georgia 43.6 #35/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

Construction → Healthcare and Social Assistance → Retail Trade → Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services → Finance and Insurance → Real Estate and Rental and Leasing → Administrative and Support Services → Information → Other Services →