NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Wilmington, NC

Metro Market Score 50.4 (Challenging), ranked #117 of 298 metros. 1,447 establishments, 25,651 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 50.4
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

🏭Industry Hub📈Rapid Growth⚡Rising Wages

Wilmington is a specialized hub for accommodation and food services, with a location quotient of 1.51 and industry concentration in the upper half. Higher-than-average firm density means more competition for talent and customers, but also a deeper local supply chain and client pool.

Industry Concentration
93.3
LQ: 1.51
Rank #278 of 298 metros
Wage Competitiveness
51.3
$24,890 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 100.0
Employment growth index
Rank #1 of 298 metros
Wage Pressure
71.3
YoY wage change index

1,447 Accommodation and Food Services Firms in Wilmington

1,447
Establishments
+36.9% YoY
25,651
Total Employment
+36.6% YoY
$24,890
Average Annual Wage
+3.5% YoY
1.51
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Wilmington 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 Wilmington NC Statewide
Overall Score 50.4 Challenging 23.4 Low
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #117 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 Wilmington

Construction 35.6 Other Services 38.6 Finance and Insurance 39.7 Healthcare and Social Assistance 40.0 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 41.9 Retail Trade 42.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 61.5

Accommodation and Food Services in Other North Carolina Metros

Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton 30.8 #16/298 Durham-Chapel Hill 40.0 #49/298 Raleigh-Cary 42.8 #64/298 Burlington 45.6 #92/298 Greensboro-High Point 49.3 #111/298 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 Wilmington's accommodation and food services sector, the industry concentration component (93.3) 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.