NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in New Jersey: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 43.7 (Elevated), ranked #27 of 51 states. 29,311 establishments, 427,389 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 43.7
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

The retail trade sector in New Jersey 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
27.4%
Percentile within industry
Rank #38 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 52.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #17 of 51 states
Establishment Density
34.7
vs. national average
Rank #20 of 51 states
Market Volatility
24.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
20.0
Labor cost pressure

29,311 Establishments in New Jersey

29,311
Establishments
-1.7% YoY
427,389
Total Employment
-0.7% YoY
$45,375
Average Annual Wage
+1.7% YoY

New Jersey vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric NJ National Difference
Entry Risk Score 43.7 44.6 -0.9
5-Year Retention 27.4% 51.0% -23.6
Growth Momentum 52.0 42.9 +9.1
Market Volatility 24.4 24.4 +0.0
Establishment Density 34.7 49.0 -14.3
Wage Pressure 20.0 30.5 -10.5

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

New Jersey Ranks #27 of 51 for Retail Trade

New Jersey ranks #27 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 37.1 moderate
#5 Alaska 37.2 moderate
#27 New Jersey You 43.7 elevated
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 New Jersey stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How New Jersey's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

Pennsylvania 38.1 #6/51 Delaware 41.8 #19/51 New York 57.2 #49/51

Other Industries in New Jersey

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 →