NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Sioux City, IA

Metro Market Score 60.7 (Difficult), ranked #264 of 378 metros. 520 establishments, 8,314 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 60.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

⚡Rising Wages

Sioux City's retail trade sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 2.9). That contraction, combined with a 60.7 market score, puts this metro in the lower half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
47.1
LQ: 1.12
Rank #178 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
19.1
$34,666 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 2.9
Employment growth index
Rank #368 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
75.1
YoY wage change index

520 Retail Trade Firms in Sioux City

520
Establishments
-15.7% YoY
8,314
Total Employment
-12.5% YoY
$34,666
Average Annual Wage
+2.6% YoY
1.12
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Sioux City vs Iowa Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Iowa overall. The state ranks #16/51 for entry risk.

Measure Sioux City IA Statewide
Overall Score 60.7 Difficult 40.8 Moderate
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #264 of 378 metros #16 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 Sioux City

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 29.5 Accommodation and Food Services 42.9 Finance and Insurance 49.1 Other Services 50.5 Information 51.0 Healthcare and Social Assistance 56.0 Administrative and Support Services 62.2 Construction 63.4

Retail Trade in Other Iowa Metros

Ames 28.5 #7/378 Dubuque 34.4 #20/378 Des Moines-West Des Moines 34.7 #23/378 Iowa City 42.0 #56/378 Cedar Rapids 45.2 #86/378 Waterloo-Cedar Falls 51.3 #155/378 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island 60.0 #252/378

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 Sioux City's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (97.1) 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.