NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Mobile, AL

Metro Market Score 54.9 (Challenging), ranked #195 of 378 metros. 1,619 establishments, 19,509 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 54.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

⚡Rising Wages

At #195 of 378 metros, Mobile's retail trade sector scores 54.9 on the market index. Concentration (44.2), wage levels (55.6), and growth (50.0) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
44.2
LQ: 1.11
Rank #167 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
55.6
$38,417 avg wage
Growth Trend
50.0
Employment growth index
Rank #190 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
74.6
YoY wage change index

1,619 Retail Trade Firms in Mobile

1,619
Establishments
+0.4% YoY
19,509
Total Employment
-0.2% YoY
$38,417
Average Annual Wage
+2.5% YoY
1.11
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Mobile vs Alabama Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Alabama overall. The state ranks #36/51 for entry risk.

Measure Mobile AL Statewide
Overall Score 54.9 Challenging 46.4 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #195 of 378 metros #36 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Mobile

Construction 45.8 Accommodation and Food Services 52.5 Information 52.9 Healthcare and Social Assistance 57.1 Other Services 58.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 60.5 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 61.2 Administrative and Support Services 61.9 Finance and Insurance 69.1

Retail Trade in Other Alabama Metros

Tuscaloosa 32.9 #14/378 Auburn-Opelika 35.6 #27/378 Decatur 37.0 #31/378 Gadsden 41.9 #55/378 Huntsville 44.8 #81/378 Montgomery 49.9 #137/378 Birmingham 51.8 #161/378 Anniston-Oxford 52.9 #175/378 Florence-Muscle Shoals 61.9 #276/378 Daphne-Fairhope-Foley 62.9 #285/378

+ 1 more metros. View all in Alabama →

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Mobile's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (50.0) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.