Which local services is Burke County, NC short of?

3 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; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Pet Care5 with employees + 27 without = 32 · 3.6 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services11 with employees + 278 without = 289 · 32.8 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care29 with employees + 239 without = 268 · 30.4 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.7× moreMore 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.