NAICS 72

Accommodation and Food Services in Utah: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 36.5 (Moderate), ranked #22 of 51 states. 7,219 establishments, 143,500 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 36.5
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

Utah's accommodation and food services sector shows high establishment density (top 10 nationally) paired with firm retention in the bottom 10. This combination indicates elevated competitive pressure on new market entrants.

5-Year Firm Retention
13.7%
Percentile within industry
Rank #45 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 100.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #1 of 51 states
Establishment Density
11.4
vs. national average
Rank #9 of 51 states
Market Volatility
9.1
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
18.0
Labor cost pressure

7,219 Establishments in Utah

7,219
Establishments
+4.3% YoY
143,500
Total Employment
+1.3% YoY
$25,609
Average Annual Wage
+2.9% YoY

Utah vs National Accommodation and Food Services Average

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

Metric UT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 36.5 40.0 -3.5
5-Year Retention 13.7% 51.0% -37.3
Growth Momentum 100.0 41.1 +58.9
Market Volatility 9.1 23.9 -14.8
Establishment Density 11.4 27.0 -15.6
Wage Pressure 18.0 33.4 -15.4

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

Utah Ranks #22 of 51 for Accommodation and Food Services

Utah ranks #22 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
#22 Utah You 36.5 moderate
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 Utah 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 Utah's accommodation and food services market compares to bordering states.

New Mexico 24.5 #3/51 Idaho 26.2 #4/51 Arizona 46.9 #40/51 Colorado 46.9 #41/51 Wyoming 55.0 #45/51 Nevada 64.0 #49/51

Other Industries in Utah

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 →