DE
Delaware: 2026 Business Market Risk & Industry Survival
Rank #29 of 51 state markets. 10 industries tracked. Population: 989,948.
Delaware ranks #29 out of 51 state markets by average entry risk (43.6). Accommodation and Food Services carries the lowest risk at 19.8 (Low), while Finance and Insurance is the most challenging at 57.7 (High). The 38.0-point spread signals significant variation across sectors. Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest tracked employer with 78,754 jobs.
Delaware: 43.6 Average Entry Risk
37,849
Total Establishments
Across tracked industries
321,619
Total Employment
Across tracked industries
43.6
Average Entry Risk
Across all industries
Delaware at a Glance
Best Industries for New Entrants in Delaware
Industries with the lowest entry risk in Delaware.
Entry Risk by Industry in Delaware
Compare market entry conditions across industries in Delaware. Rank indicates position vs. all 50 states.
Lower is better
Low Mod Elev High
Retail Trade
#19
Construction
#26
Other Services
#28
Information
#36
Delaware Industry Data: 37,849 Establishments
| Industry | Entry Risk | Rank | Establishments | Employment | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services NAICS 72 | 19.8 | #1/51 | 2,572 | 43,751 | $27,058 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 54 | 38.9 | #24/51 | 9,297 | 28,841 | $125,737 |
| Retail Trade NAICS 44-45 | 41.8 | #19/51 | 3,860 | 51,184 | $39,581 |
| Construction NAICS 23 | 43.0 | #26/51 | 3,758 | 24,283 | $77,558 |
| Administrative and Support Services NAICS 56 | 43.2 | #35/51 | 4,886 | 28,768 | $57,252 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance NAICS 62 | 44.8 | #33/51 | 6,010 | 78,754 | $70,245 |
| Other Services NAICS 81 | 45.5 | #28/51 | 2,460 | 12,711 | $47,861 |
| Information NAICS 51 | 48.0 | #36/51 | 1,152 | 3,529 | $104,210 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing NAICS 53 | 53.2 | #47/51 | 1,298 | 6,014 | $71,878 |
| Finance and Insurance NAICS 52 | 57.7 | #44/51 | 2,556 | 43,784 | $129,518 |
Largest Industries in Delaware by Employment
How Delaware Compares to Neighboring States
Average entry risk across all tracked industries. Lower scores indicate better conditions for new businesses.
| State | Avg Entry Risk | vs DE |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 43.6 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 33.6 | -10.0 |
| Maryland | 41.8 | -1.8 |
| New Jersey | 46.3 | +2.7 |