NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Cape Girardeau, MO

Metro Market Score 66.9 (Difficult), ranked #320 of 378 metros. 385 establishments, 6,114 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 66.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Difficult

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

⚡Rising Wages

Market conditions for retail trade in Cape Girardeau are tougher than average. The 66.9 market score reflects a combination of moderate wages, slowing employment, and an already crowded field. Rank: #320 of 378 metros.

Industry Concentration
91.0
LQ: 1.39
Rank #344 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
20.9
$34,854 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 22.0
Employment growth index
Rank #296 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
77.7
YoY wage change index

385 Retail Trade Firms in Cape Girardeau

385
Establishments
-2.8% YoY
6,114
Total Employment
-1.9% YoY
$34,854
Average Annual Wage
+3.1% YoY
1.39
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Cape Girardeau vs Missouri Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Missouri overall. The state ranks #42/51 for entry risk.

Measure Cape Girardeau MO Statewide
Overall Score 66.9 Difficult 50.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #320 of 378 metros #42 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 Cape Girardeau

Industry data for other sectors in this metro is not available in the current BLS release. This can happen when metro area boundaries are redesignated.

Retail Trade in Other Missouri Metros

Columbia 32.6 #13/378 Joplin 37.4 #34/378 St. Joseph 41.3 #54/378 St. Louis 47.5 #105/378 Springfield 48.1 #112/378 Kansas City 48.9 #120/378 Jefferson City 51.7 #159/378

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 Cape Girardeau's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (78.0) 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.