Which local services is Ascension Parish, LA short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 1 has fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 3 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care9 with employees + 31 without = 40 · 3.0 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.6×Fewer than average
• Cleaning Services23 with employees + 511 without = 534 · 40.5 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.2×More than average
• Exterior & Building Services5 with employees + 67 without = 72 · 5.5 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.3×More than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care34 with employees + 421 without = 455 · 34.5 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.9×More than average

What this doesn't tell you: These counts measure how many businesses exist, not how many customers want one. Fewer of something can mean an opening — or that there is less local demand for it. Treat a low number as a lead to check, not a verdict.

Sources: US Census County Business Patterns ↗ (businesses with employees) and Nonemployer Statistics ↗ (sole proprietors). Every figure here is the two added together.