IL
Illinois: 2026 Business Market Risk & Industry Survival
Rank #36 of 51 state markets. 10 industries tracked. Population: 12,812,508.
Illinois ranks #36 out of 51 state markets by average entry risk (46.3). Accommodation and Food Services carries the lowest risk at 39.5 (Moderate), while Other Services is the most challenging at 50.5 (Elevated). The 11.0-point spread signals moderate variation across sectors. Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest tracked employer with 838,041 jobs.
Illinois: 46.3 Average Entry Risk
295,142
Total Establishments
Across tracked industries
3,668,594
Total Employment
Across tracked industries
46.3
Average Entry Risk
Across all industries
Illinois at a Glance
Best Industries for New Entrants in Illinois
Industries with the lowest entry risk in Illinois.
Entry Risk by Industry in Illinois
Compare market entry conditions across industries in Illinois. Rank indicates position vs. all 50 states.
Lower is better
Low Mod Elev High
Retail Trade
#39
Information
#38
Construction
#34
Other Services
#39
Illinois Industry Data: 295,142 Establishments
| Industry | Entry Risk | Rank | Establishments | Employment | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services NAICS 72 | 39.5 | #30/51 | 28,646 | 504,756 | $31,130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services NAICS 54 | 42.6 | #33/51 | 60,564 | 441,983 | $126,277 |
| Healthcare and Social Assistance NAICS 62 | 43.6 | #30/51 | 37,695 | 838,041 | $64,306 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing NAICS 53 | 44.3 | #33/51 | 13,943 | 79,786 | $89,068 |
| Finance and Insurance NAICS 52 | 46.2 | #10/51 | 20,134 | 297,859 | $155,722 |
| Retail Trade NAICS 44-45 | 48.1 | #39/51 | 35,202 | 571,407 | $41,802 |
| Information NAICS 51 | 48.5 | #38/51 | 9,550 | 91,097 | $143,190 |
| Construction NAICS 23 | 49.1 | #34/51 | 32,693 | 236,852 | $90,842 |
| Administrative and Support Services NAICS 56 | 50.5 | #46/51 | 21,715 | 401,753 | $60,597 |
| Other Services NAICS 81 | 50.5 | #39/51 | 35,000 | 205,060 | $57,410 |
Largest Industries in Illinois by Employment
How Illinois Compares to Neighboring States
Average entry risk across all tracked industries. Lower scores indicate better conditions for new businesses.