NAICS 51

Information in Montana: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 33.2 (Moderate), ranked #7 of 51 states. 1,170 establishments, 5,499 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 33.2
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

🛡️Stable Market💎Hidden Gem

Montana exhibits structural stability in information, with volatility at 11.3 and firm retention ranking in the top half. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
68.6%
Percentile within industry
Rank #17 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
15.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #47 of 51 states
Establishment Density
18.9
vs. national average
Rank #34 of 51 states
Market Volatility
11.3
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
0.0
Labor cost pressure

1,170 Establishments in Montana

1,170
Establishments
-2.3% YoY
5,499
Total Employment
-1.9% YoY
$88,615
Average Annual Wage
+0.6% YoY

Montana vs National Information Average

How Montana's information market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric MT National Difference
Entry Risk Score 33.2 43.6 -10.4
5-Year Retention 68.6% 51.0% +17.6
Growth Momentum 15.0 34.6 -19.6
Market Volatility 11.3 24.1 -12.8
Establishment Density 18.9 18.3 +0.6
Wage Pressure 0.0 41.8 -41.8

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

Montana Ranks #7 of 51 for Information

Montana ranks #7 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
#7 Montana You 33.2 moderate
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 Montana stack up against other states for information?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Information in Neighboring States

How Montana's information market compares to bordering states.

North Dakota 28.8 #1/51 South Dakota 33.6 #8/51 Wyoming 42.2 #21/51 Idaho 43.8 #24/51

Other Industries in Montana

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 →