NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Louisiana: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 52.3 (Elevated), ranked #46 of 51 states. 18,928 establishments, 215,035 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 52.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

The retail trade sector in Louisiana is tracking close to the U.S. baseline, with no extreme signals in volatility, saturation, or wage pressure. Entry conditions are within the national median range.

5-Year Firm Retention
51.0%
Percentile within industry
Rank #26 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
24.2
Scale of 0-100
Rank #43 of 51 states
Establishment Density
77.2
vs. national average
Rank #42 of 51 states
Market Volatility
19.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
18.7
Labor cost pressure

18,928 Establishments in Louisiana

18,928
Establishments
+0.4% YoY
215,035
Total Employment
-1.6% YoY
$35,677
Average Annual Wage
+1.6% YoY

Louisiana vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric LA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 52.3 44.6 +7.7
5-Year Retention 51.0% 51.0% -0.0
Growth Momentum 24.2 42.9 -18.7
Market Volatility 19.4 24.4 -5.0
Establishment Density 77.2 49.0 +28.2
Wage Pressure 18.7 30.5 -11.8

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

Louisiana Ranks #46 of 51 for Retail Trade

Louisiana ranks #46 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 37.2 moderate
#46 Louisiana You 52.3 elevated
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 Louisiana stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How Louisiana's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Texas 41.6 #17/51 Arkansas 51.8 #44/51 Mississippi 59.2 #51/51

Other Industries in Louisiana

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 →