Which local services is Chatham County, NC 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.

• Cleaning Services11 with employees + 200 without = 211 · 25.7 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services6 with employees + 36 without = 42 · 5.1 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.3× moreMore than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care46 with employees + 206 without = 252 · 30.7 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.7× moreMore than average
• Pet Care10 with employees + 72 without = 82 · 10.0 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  2.1× 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.