NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in North Dakota: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 49.9 (Elevated), ranked #41 of 51 states. 3,190 establishments, 45,720 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 49.9
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 North Dakota 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
100.0%
Percentile within industry
Rank #1 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
0.0
Scale of 0-100
Rank #51 of 51 states
Establishment Density
78.6
vs. national average
Rank #43 of 51 states
Market Volatility
41.4
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
20.0
Labor cost pressure

3,190 Establishments in North Dakota

3,190
Establishments
+1.2% YoY
45,720
Total Employment
+1.3% YoY
$39,304
Average Annual Wage
+1.7% YoY

North Dakota vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric ND National Difference
Entry Risk Score 49.9 44.6 +5.3
5-Year Retention 100.0% 51.0% +49.0
Growth Momentum 0.0 42.9 -42.9
Market Volatility 41.4 24.4 +17.0
Establishment Density 78.6 49.0 +29.6
Wage Pressure 20.0 30.5 -10.5

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

North Dakota Ranks #41 of 51 for Retail Trade

North Dakota ranks #41 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
#41 North Dakota You 49.9 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 North Dakota stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How North Dakota's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

South Dakota 38.9 #7/51 Minnesota 39.6 #9/51 Montana 45.8 #34/51

Other Industries in North Dakota

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 →