NAICS 51

Information in North Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 45.3 (Elevated), ranked #28 of 51 states. 10,373 establishments, 85,803 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 45.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national information average.

The information sector in North Carolina is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
27.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #38 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
40.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #15 of 51 states
Establishment Density
16.2
vs. national average
Rank #28 of 51 states
Market Volatility
7.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
45.4
Labor cost pressure

10,373 Establishments in North Carolina

10,373
Establishments
+2.4% YoY
85,803
Total Employment
+0.9% YoY
$130,517
Average Annual Wage
+9.5% YoY

North Carolina vs National Information Average

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

Metric NC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 45.3 43.6 +1.7
5-Year Retention 27.4% 51.0% -23.6
Growth Momentum 40.2 34.6 +5.6
Market Volatility 7.4 24.1 -16.7
Establishment Density 16.2 18.3 -2.1
Wage Pressure 45.4 41.8 +3.6

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

North Carolina Ranks #28 of 51 for Information

North Carolina ranks #28 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
#28 North Carolina You 45.3 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

Tap a state to view details

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 North Carolina stack up against other states for information?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Information in Neighboring States

How North Carolina's information market compares to bordering states.

Virginia 36.2 #9/51 South Carolina 46.3 #29/51 Tennessee 48.1 #37/51 Georgia 48.9 #39/51

Other Industries in North Carolina

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 →