NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Rockford, IL

Metro Market Score 60.5 (Difficult), ranked #259 of 378 metros. 890 establishments, 15,408 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 60.5
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

⚡Rising Wages

Rockford scores 60.5 on the Metro Market Score for retail trade, placing it in the lower half. High wage costs, strong existing competition, or slowing growth contribute to tougher entry conditions compared to most metros.

Industry Concentration
46.6
LQ: 1.12
Rank #176 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
39.4
$36,495 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 21.2
Employment growth index
Rank #299 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
76.7
YoY wage change index

890 Retail Trade Firms in Rockford

890
Establishments
-0.2% YoY
15,408
Total Employment
-2.0% YoY
$36,495
Average Annual Wage
+2.9% YoY
1.12
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Rockford vs Illinois Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Illinois overall. The state ranks #39/51 for entry risk.

Measure Rockford IL Statewide
Overall Score 60.5 Difficult 48.1 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #259 of 378 metros #39 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 Rockford

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 38.5 Construction 39.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 42.8 Administrative and Support Services 44.0 Information 46.5 Other Services 50.7 Finance and Insurance 53.0 Accommodation and Food Services 54.4 Healthcare and Social Assistance 69.1

Retail Trade in Other Illinois Metros

Champaign-Urbana 24.9 #3/378 Springfield 40.0 #50/378 Peoria 42.4 #60/378 Decatur 43.1 #71/378 Kankakee 49.5 #129/378 Bloomington 53.4 #179/378 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin 63.1 #287/378

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 Rockford's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (78.8) 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.