NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL

Metro Market Score 50.1 (Challenging), ranked #142 of 378 metros. 972 establishments, 12,876 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 50.1
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

📈Rapid Growth

Panama City-Panama City Beach is a specialized hub for retail trade, with a location quotient of 1.45 and industry concentration in the upper half. Higher-than-average firm density means more competition for talent and customers, but also a deeper local supply chain and client pool.

Industry Concentration
93.7
LQ: 1.45
Rank #354 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
53.7
$38,069 avg wage
Growth Trend
↑ 94.4
Employment growth index
Rank #22 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
58.0
YoY wage change index

972 Retail Trade Firms in Panama City-Panama City Beach

972
Establishments
+3.6% YoY
12,876
Total Employment
+5.1% YoY
$38,069
Average Annual Wage
-0.7% YoY
1.45
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Panama City-Panama City Beach vs Florida Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Florida overall. The state ranks #43/51 for entry risk.

Measure Panama City-Panama City Beach FL Statewide
Overall Score 50.1 Challenging 51.0 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #142 of 378 metros #43 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 Panama City-Panama City Beach

Other Services 35.0 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 35.4 Construction 38.1 Information 42.1 Finance and Insurance 53.2 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 65.4

Retail Trade in Other Florida Metros

Gainesville 24.8 #2/378 Tallahassee 38.1 #37/378 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville 47.7 #106/378 Jacksonville 48.1 #110/378 Homosassa Springs 49.6 #131/378 Sebring 50.6 #149/378 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford 52.0 #163/378 Wildwood-The Villages 52.1 #164/378 Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent 54.0 #188/378 Port St. Lucie 55.7 #205/378

+ 11 more metros. View all in Florida →

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 Panama City-Panama City Beach's retail trade sector, the industry concentration component (93.7) 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.