NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Alaska: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 37.2 (Moderate), ranked #5 of 51 states. 2,360 establishments, 34,895 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 37.2
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

🛡️Stable Market

Alaska exhibits structural stability in retail trade, with volatility at 32.9 and firm retention ranking in the top 5. These metrics suggest lower cyclical risk compared to the national baseline.

5-Year Firm Retention
94.1%
Percentile within industry
Rank #4 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
32.5
Scale of 0-100
Rank #32 of 51 states
Establishment Density
37.6
vs. national average
Rank #21 of 51 states
Market Volatility
32.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
42.7
Labor cost pressure

2,360 Establishments in Alaska

2,360
Establishments
-0.2% YoY
34,895
Total Employment
-0.9% YoY
$41,648
Average Annual Wage
+3.4% YoY

Alaska vs National Retail Trade Average

How Alaska's retail trade market compares to the national average across all 51 states.

Metric AK National Difference
Entry Risk Score 37.2 44.6 -7.4
5-Year Retention 94.1% 51.0% +43.1
Growth Momentum 32.5 42.9 -10.4
Market Volatility 32.9 24.4 +8.5
Establishment Density 37.6 49.0 -11.4
Wage Pressure 42.7 30.5 +12.2

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

Alaska Ranks #5 of 51 for Retail Trade

Alaska ranks #5 out of 51 states for retail trade market entry conditions.

Retail Trade Entry Risk by State

Rank State Risk Score Classification
#1 Wisconsin 33.3 moderate
#2 Nebraska 35.9 moderate
#3 Nevada 37.0 moderate
#4 Massachusetts 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska You 37.2 moderate
Entry Risk by State Alaska — 37.2 · #5 Alabama — 46.4 · #36 Arkansas — 51.8 · #44 Arizona — 44.9 · #32 California — 44.0 · #28 Colorado — 42.9 · #23 Connecticut — 44.7 · #31 District of Columbia — 58.0 · #50 Delaware — 41.8 · #19 Florida — 51.0 · #43 Georgia — 47.5 · #38 Hawaii — 56.1 · #48 Iowa — 40.8 · #16 Idaho — 40.1 · #12 Illinois — 48.1 · #39 Indiana — 39.8 · #10 Kansas — 40.4 · #14 Kentucky — 46.4 · #36 Louisiana — 52.3 · #46 Massachusetts — 37.1 · #4 Maryland — 43.6 · #26 Maine — 44.1 · #29 Michigan — 40.5 · #15 Minnesota — 39.6 · #9 Missouri — 50.6 · #42 Mississippi — 59.2 · #51 Montana — 45.8 · #34 North Carolina — 43.4 · #25 North Dakota — 49.9 · #41 Nebraska — 35.9 · #2 New Hampshire — 48.7 · #40 New Jersey — 43.7 · #27 New Mexico — 39.9 · #11 Nevada — 37.0 · #3 New York — 57.2 · #49 Ohio — 39.2 · #8 Oklahoma — 46.3 · #35 Oregon — 42.9 · #24 Pennsylvania — 38.1 · #6 Rhode Island — 42.3 · #21 South Carolina — 44.3 · #30 South Dakota — 38.9 · #7 Tennessee — 42.8 · #22 Texas — 41.6 · #17 Utah — 40.3 · #13 Virginia — 41.6 · #17 Vermont — 52.1 · #45 Washington — 42.0 · #20 Wisconsin — 33.3 · #1 West Virginia — 52.8 · #47 Wyoming — 44.9 · #33
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 Alaska stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Other Industries in Alaska

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