Which local services is South Central Connecticut Planning Region 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; 0 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Cleaning Services93 with employees + 956 without = 1049 · 18.3 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.8× fewerFewer than average
• Landscaping & Lawn Care236 with employees + 641 without = 877 · 15.3 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services24 with employees + 207 without = 231 · 4.0 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  ≈About average
• Pet Care46 with employees + 222 without = 268 · 4.7 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.