NAICS 72

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

Entry risk 29.2 (Low), ranked #9 of 51 states. 13,071 establishments, 245,086 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 29.2
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💎Hidden Gem

South Carolina exhibits structural stability in accommodation and food services, with volatility at 11.4 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
78.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #12 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 54.7
Scale of 0-100
Rank #14 of 51 states
Establishment Density
26.7
vs. national average
Rank #33 of 51 states
Market Volatility
11.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
52.0
Labor cost pressure

13,071 Establishments in South Carolina

13,071
Establishments
+4.0% YoY
245,086
Total Employment
+1.1% YoY
$25,780
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY

South Carolina vs National Accommodation and Food Services Average

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

Metric SC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 29.2 40.0 -10.8
5-Year Retention 78.4% 51.0% +27.4
Growth Momentum 54.7 41.1 +13.6
Market Volatility 11.4 23.9 -12.5
Establishment Density 26.7 27.0 -0.3
Wage Pressure 52.0 33.4 +18.6

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

South Carolina Ranks #9 of 51 for Accommodation and Food Services

South Carolina ranks #9 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 23.4 low
#3 New Mexico 24.5 low
#4 Idaho 26.2 low
#5 Wisconsin 28.2 low
#9 South Carolina You 29.2 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

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

North Carolina 23.4 #2/51 Georgia 43.6 #35/51

Other Industries in South 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 →