NAICS 54

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Kentucky: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 35.7 (Moderate), ranked #14 of 51 states. 21,964 establishments, 88,079 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 35.7
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national professional, scientific, and technical services average.

🛡️Stable Market

Kentucky exhibits structural stability in professional, scientific, and technical services, with volatility at 14.4 and firm retention ranking in the top 15. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
74.5%
Percentile within industry
Rank #14 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
18.8
Scale of 0-100
Rank #47 of 51 states
Establishment Density
5.9
vs. national average
Rank #24 of 51 states
Market Volatility
14.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
26.9
Labor cost pressure

21,964 Establishments in Kentucky

21,964
Establishments
+6.6% YoY
88,079
Total Employment
+1.7% YoY
$85,466
Average Annual Wage
+4.6% YoY

Kentucky vs National Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Average

How Kentucky's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric KY National Difference
Entry Risk Score 35.7 40.5 -4.8
5-Year Retention 74.5% 51.0% +23.5
Growth Momentum 18.8 37.2 -18.4
Market Volatility 14.4 21.8 -7.4
Establishment Density 5.9 12.6 -6.7
Wage Pressure 26.9 34.0 -7.1

Green = favorable vs national average. Red = less favorable. Metrics are relative within professional, scientific, and technical services only.

Kentucky Ranks #14 of 51 for Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Kentucky ranks #14 out of 51 states for professional, scientific, and technical services market entry conditions.

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Alabama 29.4 low
#2 Iowa 31.1 moderate
#3 Nebraska 31.6 moderate
#4 South Dakota 32.9 moderate
#5 Mississippi 33.4 moderate
#14 Kentucky You 35.7 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 38.0 · #21 Alabama — 29.4 · #1 Arkansas — 37.3 · #18 Arizona — 41.2 · #28 California — 51.2 · #48 Colorado — 46.4 · #46 Connecticut — 45.1 · #41 District of Columbia — 44.8 · #40 Delaware — 38.9 · #24 Florida — 38.2 · #22 Georgia — 43.5 · #38 Hawaii — 33.8 · #7 Iowa — 31.1 · #2 Idaho — 34.9 · #11 Illinois — 42.6 · #33 Indiana — 56.7 · #50 Kansas — 44.7 · #39 Kentucky — 35.7 · #14 Louisiana — 36.4 · #15 Massachusetts — 41.5 · #29 Maryland — 38.4 · #23 Maine — 40.2 · #26 Michigan — 41.2 · #27 Minnesota — 49.2 · #47 Missouri — 45.5 · #45 Mississippi — 33.4 · #5 Montana — 43.4 · #37 North Carolina — 37.8 · #20 North Dakota — 34.8 · #10 Nebraska — 31.6 · #3 New Hampshire — 37.5 · #19 New Jersey — 45.4 · #44 New Mexico — 59.3 · #51 Nevada — 42.6 · #34 New York — 52.4 · #49 Ohio — 36.9 · #17 Oklahoma — 45.4 · #43 Oregon — 45.2 · #42 Pennsylvania — 33.7 · #6 Rhode Island — 35.3 · #13 South Carolina — 34.7 · #9 South Dakota — 32.9 · #4 Tennessee — 39.4 · #25 Texas — 42.2 · #30 Utah — 42.2 · #31 Virginia — 42.3 · #32 Vermont — 43.0 · #35 Washington — 43.3 · #36 Wisconsin — 35.0 · #12 West Virginia — 34.4 · #8 Wyoming — 36.5 · #16
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 Kentucky stack up against other states for professional, scientific, and technical services?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services in Neighboring States

How Kentucky's professional, scientific, and technical services market compares to bordering states.

West Virginia 34.4 #8/51 Ohio 36.9 #17/51 Tennessee 39.4 #25/51 Virginia 42.3 #32/51 Illinois 42.6 #33/51 Missouri 45.5 #45/51 Indiana 56.7 #50/51

Other Industries in Kentucky

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