NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Metro Market Score 42.8 (Moderate), ranked #64 of 298 metros. 3,511 establishments, 65,588 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 42.8
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Moderate

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

📈Rapid Growth

Raleigh-Cary ranks in the top quartile for accommodation and food services market conditions, driven by above-average employment growth. With a market score of 42.8, conditions are relatively favorable compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
41.6
LQ: 0.99
Rank #124 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
57.0
$25,814 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 82.9
Employment growth index
Rank #52 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
64.8
YoY wage change index

3,511 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Raleigh-Cary

3,511
Establishments
+1.5% YoY
65,588
Total Employment
+2.6% YoY
$25,814
Average Annual Wage
+1.6% YoY
0.99
Location Quotient
Below national avg

Raleigh-Cary vs North Carolina Statewide

How this metro's accommodation and food services market compares to North Carolina overall. The state ranks #2/51 for entry risk.

Measure Raleigh-Cary NC Statewide
Overall Score 42.8 Moderate 23.4 Low
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #64 of 298 metros #2 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 Raleigh-Cary

Healthcare and Social Assistance 35.4 Retail Trade 44.4 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 54.3 Construction 56.1 Other Services 56.5 Administrative and Support Services 62.9 Information 74.2 Finance and Insurance 76.3

Accommodation and Food Services in Other North Carolina Metros

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 30.8 #16/298 Durham-Chapel Hill 40.0 #49/298 Burlington 45.6 #92/298 Greensboro-High Point 49.3 #111/298 Wilmington 50.4 #117/298 Rocky Mount 52.0 #131/298 Winston-Salem 53.4 #142/298 Greenville 54.0 #149/298 Jacksonville 59.4 #179/298 Fayetteville 60.0 #184/298

+ 3 more metros. View all in North Carolina →

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 Raleigh-Cary's accommodation and food services sector, the wage competitiveness component (57.0) 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.