NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in South Carolina: 2026 Market Risk Report

Entry risk 44.3 (Elevated), ranked #30 of 51 states. 20,650 establishments, 267,783 jobs.

Entry Risk Assessment

Entry Risk Score 44.3
Low 0-30
Moderate 30-42
Elevated 42-55
High 55+
Elevated

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

📈Growth Opportunity

South Carolina ranks top 15 in growth momentum while maintaining relatively low market saturation (bottom 15). This combination signals an underpenetrated market with expanding demand.

5-Year Firm Retention
52.9%
Percentile within industry
Rank #25 of 51 states
Growth Momentum
↑ 59.1
Scale of 0-100
Rank #15 of 51 states
Establishment Density
75.8
vs. national average
Rank #41 of 51 states
Market Volatility
12.9
Lower is more stable
Wage Pressure Index
34.7
Labor cost pressure

20,650 Establishments in South Carolina

20,650
Establishments
+3.5% YoY
267,783
Total Employment
+0.9% YoY
$37,991
Average Annual Wage
+2.8% YoY

South Carolina vs National Retail Trade Average

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

Metric SC National Difference
Entry Risk Score 44.3 44.6 -0.3
5-Year Retention 52.9% 51.0% +1.9
Growth Momentum 59.1 42.9 +16.2
Market Volatility 12.9 24.4 -11.5
Establishment Density 75.8 49.0 +26.8
Wage Pressure 34.7 30.5 +4.2

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

South Carolina Ranks #30 of 51 for Retail Trade

South Carolina ranks #30 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
#30 South Carolina You 44.3 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

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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 South Carolina stack up against other states for retail trade?

Select a state above to see the comparison

Retail Trade in Neighboring States

How South Carolina's retail trade market compares to bordering states.

North Carolina 43.4 #25/51 Georgia 47.5 #38/51

Other Industries in South Carolina

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 →