Which local services is Union County, NJ 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; 2 have more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Landscaping & Lawn Care263 with employees + 378 without = 641 · 11.0 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.7× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care37 with employees + 230 without = 267 · 4.6 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  ≈About average
• Exterior & Building Services26 with employees + 255 without = 281 · 4.8 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× moreMore than average
• Cleaning Services160 with employees + 2364 without = 2524 · 43.4 per 10k vs 32.7 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.