NAICS 51

Information in District of Columbia: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 51.0 (Elevated), ranked #43 of 51 states. 2,522 establishments, 18,575 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 51.0
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

📈Growth Opportunity🛡️Stable Market

Despite ranking top 5 in growth momentum, District of Columbia presents structural entry friction. Wage pressure (100.0) and an overall risk score of 51.0 indicate that top-line growth may not translate to favorable unit economics for new establishments.

5-Year Firm Retention
74.5%
Percentile within industry
Rank #14 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 59.6
Scale of 0-100
Rank #5 of 51 states
Establishment Density
100.0
vs. national average
Rank #51 of 51 states
Market Volatility
22.7
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
100.0
Labor cost pressure

2,522 Establishments in District of Columbia

2,522
Establishments
-0.9% YoY
18,575
Total Employment
-6.1% YoY
$221,644
Average Annual Wage
+20.2% YoY

District of Columbia vs National Information Average

How District of Columbia's information market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric DC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 51.0 43.6 +7.4
5-Year Retention 74.5% 51.0% +23.5
Growth Momentum 59.6 34.6 +25.0
Market Volatility 22.7 24.1 -1.4
Establishment Density 100.0 18.3 +81.7
Wage Pressure 100.0 41.8 +58.2

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within information only.

District of Columbia Ranks #43 of 51 for Information

District of Columbia ranks #43 out of 51 states for information market entry conditions.

Information Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 North Dakota 28.8 low
#2 Arkansas 30.0 moderate
#3 Alaska 31.5 moderate
#4 Pennsylvania 31.8 moderate
#5 Alabama 32.1 moderate
#43 District of Columbia You 51.0 elevated
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 31.5 · #3 Alabama — 32.1 · #5 Arkansas — 30.0 · #2 Arizona — 49.2 · #41 California — 56.6 · #51 Colorado — 46.7 · #31 Connecticut — 54.5 · #47 District of Columbia — 51.0 · #43 Delaware — 48.0 · #36 Florida — 46.5 · #30 Georgia — 48.9 · #39 Hawaii — 55.2 · #48 Iowa — 38.3 · #15 Idaho — 43.8 · #24 Illinois — 48.5 · #38 Indiana — 40.2 · #19 Kansas — 37.6 · #12 Kentucky — 32.6 · #6 Louisiana — 51.7 · #44 Massachusetts — 40.2 · #17 Maryland — 48.9 · #40 Maine — 44.1 · #25 Michigan — 47.2 · #32 Minnesota — 42.6 · #22 Missouri — 36.8 · #10 Mississippi — 43.1 · #23 Montana — 33.2 · #7 North Carolina — 45.3 · #28 North Dakota — 28.8 · #1 Nebraska — 37.8 · #13 New Hampshire — 47.8 · #35 New Jersey — 52.0 · #46 New Mexico — 47.7 · #34 Nevada — 56.3 · #50 New York — 50.5 · #42 Ohio — 44.4 · #26 Oklahoma — 40.2 · #18 Oregon — 52.0 · #45 Pennsylvania — 31.8 · #4 Rhode Island — 39.9 · #16 South Carolina — 46.3 · #29 South Dakota — 33.6 · #8 Tennessee — 48.1 · #37 Texas — 41.5 · #20 Utah — 47.4 · #33 Virginia — 36.2 · #9 Vermont — 45.1 · #27 Washington — 55.7 · #49 Wisconsin — 38.1 · #14 West Virginia — 37.3 · #11 Wyoming — 42.2 · #21
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 District of Columbia stack up against other states for information?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Information in Neighboring States

How District of Columbia's information market compares to bordering states.

Virginia 36.2 #9/51 Maryland 48.9 #40/51

Other Industries in District of Columbia

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