NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Kansas City, MO

Metro Market Score 48.9 (Challenging), ranked #120 of 378 metros. 6,186 establishments, 109,937 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 48.9
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

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

At #120 of 378 metros, Kansas City's retail trade sector scores 48.9 on the market index. Concentration (22.5), wage levels (57.1), and growth (47.4) all track close to the median. Local factors like lease costs and client access will matter more than macro signals.

Industry Concentration
22.5
LQ: 1.01
Rank #85 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
57.1
$38,595 avg wage
Growth Trend
47.4
Employment growth index
Rank #200 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
65.8
YoY wage change index

6,186 Retail Trade Firms in Kansas City

6,186
Establishments
-0.3% YoY
109,937
Total Employment
-0.3% YoY
$38,595
Average Annual Wage
+0.8% YoY
1.01
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Kansas City vs Missouri Statewide

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

Measure Kansas City MO Statewide
Overall Score 48.9 Challenging 50.6 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #120 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 Kansas City

Construction 57.9

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 Jefferson City 51.7 #159/378 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 Kansas City's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (52.6) 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.