What this industry includes
Retail trade covers businesses that sell merchandise directly to consumers through storefronts or online. Common examples include supermarkets, clothing stores, car dealerships, pharmacies, hardware stores, gas stations, specialty shops, and online retailers.
2024 state comparison
New Hampshire had the highest retail trade employment concentration in 2024. Idaho recorded the fastest establishment growth from 2019, while Idaho recorded the fastest job growth. The tables use BLS QCEW private-sector annual data.
Industry concentration
New Hampshire has the highest retail trade employment location quotient.
Establishment growth
Idaho has the fastest establishment growth rate among the 50 states.
Job growth
Idaho has the fastest private-sector job growth rate among the 50 states.
Where the industry is most concentrated
States ranked by their 2024 employment location quotient for retail trade. A location quotient above 1.00 means the industry represents a larger share of state employment than it does nationally.
| Rank | State | Employment LQ | Establishment LQ | 2024 jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1.32 | 0.97 | 90,418 |
| 2 | Maine | 1.27 | 1.04 | 82,114 |
| 3 | Montana | 1.23 | 0.84 | 62,766 |
| 4 | Mississippi | 1.19 | 1.56 | 138,774 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 1.18 | 1.07 | 54,087 |
| 6 | Florida | 1.17 | 1.08 | 1,152,918 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 1.17 | 1.22 | 267,783 |
| 8 | Vermont | 1.16 | 1.02 | 35,820 |
| 9 | Alabama | 1.14 | 1.36 | 239,581 |
| 10 | Louisiana | 1.12 | 1.38 | 215,035 |
Fastest establishment growth
States ranked by the percent change in retail trade establishments from 2019 to 2024.
| Rank | State | 2024 establishments | Change vs 2019 | Job change vs 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 7,568 | +1,528 (+25.3%) | +6,856 (+7.9%) |
| 2 | Georgia | 38,010 | +5,328 (+16.3%) | +18,911 (+3.8%) |
| 3 | South Carolina | 20,650 | +2,497 (+13.8%) | +16,050 (+6.4%) |
| 4 | Tennessee | 25,424 | +2,965 (+13.2%) | +10,847 (+3.3%) |
| 5 | Kentucky | 17,403 | +1,866 (+12.0%) | -548 (-0.3%) |
| 6 | North Carolina | 38,080 | +3,831 (+11.2%) | +23,336 (+4.7%) |
| 7 | Texas | 85,556 | +6,577 (+8.3%) | +78,855 (+6.0%) |
| 8 | Delaware | 3,860 | +291 (+8.2%) | -639 (-1.2%) |
| 9 | Mississippi | 12,369 | +891 (+7.8%) | +2,898 (+2.1%) |
| 10 | Arizona | 17,270 | +1,230 (+7.7%) | +18,306 (+5.6%) |
Fastest job growth
States ranked by the percent change in retail trade private-sector jobs from 2019 to 2024.
| Rank | State | 2024 jobs | Change vs 2019 | Employment LQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho | 93,872 | +6,856 (+7.9%) | 1.09 |
| 2 | Montana | 62,766 | +4,507 (+7.7%) | 1.23 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 267,783 | +16,050 (+6.4%) | 1.17 |
| 4 | Texas | 1,400,612 | +78,855 (+6.0%) | 1.01 |
| 5 | Arizona | 345,178 | +18,306 (+5.6%) | 1.07 |
| 6 | South Dakota | 54,087 | +2,854 (+5.6%) | 1.18 |
| 7 | New Mexico | 94,529 | +4,769 (+5.3%) | 1.09 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 143,656 | +6,918 (+5.1%) | 1.11 |
| 9 | Oklahoma | 185,098 | +8,439 (+4.8%) | 1.10 |
| 10 | North Carolina | 524,832 | +23,336 (+4.7%) | 1.07 |
All states
| State | 2024 establishments | Establishment change vs 2019 | 2024 jobs | Job change vs 2019 | Employment LQ | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 19,398 | +986 (+5.4%) | 239,581 | +8,658 (+3.7%) | 1.14 | $37,136 |
| Alaska | 2,360 | +27 (+1.2%) | 34,895 | -679 (-1.9%) | 1.06 | $41,648 |
| Arizona | 17,270 | +1,230 (+7.7%) | 345,178 | +18,306 (+5.6%) | 1.07 | $46,521 |
| Arkansas | 10,886 | -154 (-1.4%) | 143,656 | +6,918 (+5.1%) | 1.11 | $35,990 |
| California | 106,789 | +786 (+0.7%) | 1,586,477 | -72,406 (-4.4%) | 0.87 | $48,937 |
| Colorado | 18,214 | +477 (+2.7%) | 274,327 | +2,154 (+0.8%) | 0.95 | $44,239 |
| Connecticut | 12,671 | +124 (+1.0%) | 165,499 | -10,113 (-5.8%) | 0.98 | $45,372 |
| Delaware | 3,860 | +291 (+8.2%) | 51,184 | -639 (-1.2%) | 1.07 | $39,581 |
| Florida | 84,853 | +3,589 (+4.4%) | 1,152,918 | +43,307 (+3.9%) | 1.17 | $43,151 |
| Georgia | 38,010 | +5,328 (+16.3%) | 511,713 | +18,911 (+3.8%) | 1.05 | $40,933 |
| Hawaii | 4,697 | +17 (+0.4%) | 63,981 | -7,202 (-10.1%) | 1.00 | $44,020 |
| Idaho | 7,568 | +1,528 (+25.3%) | 93,872 | +6,856 (+7.9%) | 1.09 | $40,749 |
| Illinois | 35,202 | -409 (-1.1%) | 571,407 | -15,756 (-2.7%) | 0.95 | $41,802 |
| Indiana | 21,126 | +764 (+3.8%) | 314,693 | -2,350 (-0.7%) | 0.99 | $37,509 |
| Iowa | 11,103 | -519 (-4.5%) | 173,576 | -1,558 (-0.9%) | 1.11 | $34,865 |
| Kansas | 9,003 | -274 (-3.0%) | 142,132 | -147 (-0.1%) | 1.00 | $35,862 |
| Kentucky | 17,403 | +1,866 (+12.0%) | 209,788 | -548 (-0.3%) | 1.06 | $36,975 |
| Louisiana | 18,928 | +1,043 (+5.8%) | 215,035 | -8,281 (-3.7%) | 1.12 | $35,677 |
| Maine | 6,022 | +36 (+0.6%) | 82,114 | +1,959 (+2.4%) | 1.27 | $39,751 |
| Maryland | 17,530 | -822 (-4.5%) | 269,510 | -8,979 (-3.2%) | 0.97 | $42,891 |
| Massachusetts | 21,588 | -1,562 (-6.7%) | 327,260 | -24,622 (-7.0%) | 0.90 | $46,449 |
| Michigan | 31,630 | -2,581 (-7.5%) | 451,243 | -12,194 (-2.6%) | 1.03 | $40,426 |
| Minnesota | 17,994 | -240 (-1.3%) | 284,854 | -8,183 (-2.8%) | 0.97 | $39,364 |
| Mississippi | 12,369 | +891 (+7.8%) | 138,774 | +2,898 (+2.1%) | 1.19 | $33,285 |
| Missouri | 20,588 | +492 (+2.4%) | 307,582 | +3,050 (+1.0%) | 1.06 | $37,999 |
| Montana | 4,768 | +216 (+4.7%) | 62,766 | +4,507 (+7.7%) | 1.23 | $41,181 |
| Nebraska | 6,815 | -84 (-1.2%) | 104,192 | -1,179 (-1.1%) | 1.02 | $36,515 |
| Nevada | 8,374 | -29 (-0.3%) | 147,970 | -186 (-0.1%) | 0.95 | $42,833 |
| New Hampshire | 5,770 | -90 (-1.5%) | 90,418 | -3,602 (-3.8%) | 1.32 | $44,502 |
| New Jersey | 29,311 | -384 (-1.3%) | 427,389 | -19,875 (-4.4%) | 1.01 | $45,375 |
| New Mexico | 6,427 | +240 (+3.9%) | 94,529 | +4,769 (+5.3%) | 1.09 | $36,908 |
| New York | 69,015 | -4,612 (-6.3%) | 834,803 | -78,913 (-8.6%) | 0.86 | $48,901 |
| North Carolina | 38,080 | +3,831 (+11.2%) | 524,832 | +23,336 (+4.7%) | 1.07 | $39,105 |
| North Dakota | 3,190 | +160 (+5.3%) | 45,720 | +88 (+0.2%) | 1.07 | $39,304 |
| Ohio | 36,084 | +812 (+2.3%) | 541,361 | -13,714 (-2.5%) | 0.98 | $37,559 |
| Oklahoma | 13,747 | +563 (+4.3%) | 185,098 | +8,439 (+4.8%) | 1.10 | $36,725 |
| Oregon | 14,478 | +558 (+4.0%) | 203,454 | -5,988 (-2.9%) | 1.02 | $41,975 |
| Pennsylvania | 39,844 | -993 (-2.4%) | 589,435 | -20,128 (-3.3%) | 0.98 | $37,558 |
| Rhode Island | 3,930 | +109 (+2.9%) | 47,450 | -567 (-1.2%) | 0.96 | $41,585 |
| South Carolina | 20,650 | +2,497 (+13.8%) | 267,783 | +16,050 (+6.4%) | 1.17 | $37,991 |
| South Dakota | 3,810 | +48 (+1.3%) | 54,087 | +2,854 (+5.6%) | 1.18 | $37,589 |
| Tennessee | 25,424 | +2,965 (+13.2%) | 344,510 | +10,847 (+3.3%) | 1.05 | $41,360 |
| Texas | 85,556 | +6,577 (+8.3%) | 1,400,612 | +78,855 (+6.0%) | 1.01 | $42,727 |
| Utah | 11,094 | +332 (+3.1%) | 179,051 | +5,761 (+3.3%) | 1.05 | $43,395 |
| Vermont | 2,927 | -3 (-0.1%) | 35,820 | -865 (-2.4%) | 1.16 | $42,057 |
| Virginia | 25,562 | +16 (+0.1%) | 392,040 | -12,745 (-3.1%) | 0.96 | $39,467 |
| Washington | 19,638 | -17 (-0.1%) | 328,479 | -56,041 (-14.6%) | 0.92 | $48,548 |
| West Virginia | 6,472 | +292 (+4.7%) | 77,986 | -2,450 (-3.0%) | 1.12 | $35,130 |
| Wisconsin | 17,597 | +122 (+0.7%) | 297,943 | -540 (-0.2%) | 1.01 | $35,444 |
| Wyoming | 2,425 | +90 (+3.9%) | 30,225 | +1,305 (+4.5%) | 1.07 | $37,827 |
Source note
Source: BLS QCEW annual files, NAICS 44-45 Retail Trade, private-sector establishments, annual average employment, location quotients, and average annual pay. Changes compare 2024 with 2019. QCEW covers employer establishments and jobs.