Which local services is Pierce County, WA short of?

4 home-service categories, each counted per 10,000 residents and compared against the national rate. 3 have fewer businesses per resident than the country average; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Exterior & Building Services47 with employees + 153 without = 200 · 2.1 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.9× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care297 with employees + 612 without = 909 · 9.8 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.9× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services245 with employees + 1698 without = 1943 · 20.9 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.6× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care82 with employees + 349 without = 431 · 4.6 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  ≈About 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.