NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Massachusetts: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 37.1 (Moderate), ranked #4 of 51 states. 21,588 establishments, 327,260 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 37.1
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Moderate

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

The retail trade sector in Massachusetts 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
84.3%
Percentile within industry
Rank #9 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
27.1
Scale of 0-100
Rank #38 of 51 states
Establishment Density
30.7
vs. national average
Rank #15 of 51 states
Market Volatility
46.8
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
12.0
Labor cost pressure

21,588 Establishments in Massachusetts

21,588
Establishments
-2.0% YoY
327,260
Total Employment
-0.8% YoY
$46,449
Average Annual Wage
+1.1% YoY

Massachusetts vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric MA National Difference
Entry Risk Score 37.1 44.6 -7.5
5-Year Retention 84.3% 51.0% +33.3
Growth Momentum 27.1 42.9 -15.8
Market Volatility 46.8 24.4 +22.4
Establishment Density 30.7 49.0 -18.3
Wage Pressure 12.0 30.5 -18.5

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

Massachusetts Ranks #4 of 51 for Retail Trade

Massachusetts ranks #4 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 You 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 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 Massachusetts stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

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

Rhode Island 42.3 #21/51 Connecticut 44.7 #31/51 New Hampshire 48.7 #40/51 Vermont 52.1 #45/51 New York 57.2 #49/51

Other Industries in Massachusetts

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 →