NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Jefferson City, MO

Metro Market Score 51.7 (Challenging), ranked #159 of 378 metros. 458 establishments, 8,223 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 51.7
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

⚡Rising Wages

Jefferson City's retail trade sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 15.9). That contraction, combined with a 51.7 market score, puts this metro in the upper half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
31.2
LQ: 1.06
Rank #118 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
17.7
$34,535 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 15.9
Employment growth index
Rank #319 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
71.0
YoY wage change index

458 Retail Trade Firms in Jefferson City

458
Establishments
-1.9% YoY
8,223
Total Employment
-2.4% YoY
$34,535
Average Annual Wage
+1.8% YoY
1.06
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Jefferson City vs Missouri Statewide

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

Measure Jefferson City MO Statewide
Overall Score 51.7 Challenging 50.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #159 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 Jefferson City

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 31.7 Administrative and Support Services 49.5 Construction 50.8

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 Cape Girardeau 66.9 #320/378

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 Jefferson City's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (84.1) 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.