Which local services is Ocean County, NJ short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 2 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services126 with employees + 1257 without = 1383 · 20.9 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care302 with employees + 527 without = 829 · 12.6 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.5× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care47 with employees + 270 without = 317 · 4.8 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Exterior & Building Services81 with employees + 258 without = 339 · 5.1 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.3× 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.