Which local services is Wake County, NC 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; 1 has more. Counts include sole proprietors.

• Landscaping & Lawn Care464 with employees + 1229 without = 1693 · 14.1 per 10k vs 18.2 nationally
  1.3× fewerFewer than average
• Exterior & Building Services79 with employees + 334 without = 413 · 3.4 per 10k vs 4.1 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Cleaning Services343 with employees + 2991 without = 3334 · 27.7 per 10k vs 32.7 nationally
  1.2× fewerFewer than average
• Pet Care126 with employees + 986 without = 1112 · 9.2 per 10k vs 4.7 nationally
  2.0× 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.