NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Jackson, MS

Metro Market Score 34.9 (Favorable), ranked #25 of 378 metros. 2,440 establishments, 29,636 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 34.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Favorable

Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

📈Rapid GrowthRising Wages

Employment in Jackson's retail trade sector grew faster than most metros last year, pushing its growth trend index to 95.5. Combined with a 34.9 market score, this metro sits in the top 10% for overall conditions.

Industry Concentration
37.8
LQ: 1.09
Rank #143 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
38.1
$36,387 avg wage
Growth Trend
95.5
Employment growth index
Rank #18 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
73.1
YoY wage change index

2,440 Retail Trade Firms in Jackson

2,440
Establishments
+10.0% YoY
29,636
Total Employment
+6.1% YoY
$36,387
Average Annual Wage
+2.2% YoY
1.09
Location Quotient
Above national avg
Within Mississippi
#2 of 3
retail trade metros in state
Mississippi state rank
#51 of 51
for retail trade entry risk
vs State Median
0.0
matches median (34.9)

Jackson vs Mississippi Statewide

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

Measure Jackson MS Statewide
Overall Score 34.9 Favorable 59.2 High
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #25 of 378 metros #51 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 Jackson

Retail Trade in Other Mississippi Metros

Retail Trade Metros With Similar Conditions

Metros within 5 points of Jackson's 34.9 score. Useful when comparing markets with comparable entry profiles.

Retail Trade in States Bordering Mississippi

State-level entry risk for retail trade in adjacent states. Use this to weigh cross-border options.

Browse Retail Trade in Other States

State-level entry risk reports for retail trade across all 51 markets, sorted by rank.

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 Jackson's retail trade sector, the wage pressure component (73.1) 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.