Least Risky Industries in the US in 2022

1. Medical & Recreational Marijuana Growing in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 2.60

The Medical and Recreational Marijuana Growing industry, which includes both employer and nonemployer establishments that grow marijuana for medical and recreational use, flourished over the five years to 2022. Watershed legalization victories over recent years, most notably during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, proved that the cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the US. Consumer attitudes are also accelerating legalization efforts at the state level. Gallup reports that an estimated 80.0% of US citizens approve of legal access to medical marijuana, while 60.0% approve of full adult use legalization. The growing acceptance of medical marijuana... Learn More

2. Solar Power in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 2.83

The Solar Power industry has experienced significant growth over the five years to 2022, propelled by favorable government incentives in the form of renewable portfolio standard (RPS) targets and vast improvements in the technologies used for electricity generation. RPS legislation, currently implemented in 39 states and territories, require local utilities to generate a percentage of their total energy portfolio from renewable sources. Meanwhile, increased public support for green energy has led to tax incentives and grants to encourage investments in solar power. In light of these trends, industry revenue is expected to grow an annualized 21.7% to $16.9 billion over... Learn More

3. Wind Power in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 2.87

The Wind Power industry generates revenue from owning and operating wind farms and selling the produced energy to downstream customers. Over the five years to 2022, government assistance has made wind power more cost-competitive with other electricity generation sources, with net generation from wind increasing substantially. Industry operators benefit from growing support for renewable energy and the federal production tax credit (PTC), a government incentive that pays producers per unit of energy sold. As a result of this assistance, industry revenue is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 7.4% to $99.7 billion over the five years to 2022,... Learn More

4. Medical & Recreational Marijuana Stores in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.03

The Medical and Recreational Marijuana Stores industry, which includes stores that retail medical marijuana (by prescription only) and recreational marijuana, has expanded dramatically over the five years to 2022. The legalization of marijuana for medical and/or recreational purposes and the growing acceptance of legal marijuana use provided operators and investors with unprecedented opportunities. There has been no shortage of demand over recent years, and the cannabis industry has become one of the fastest-growing in the United States.

The legalization of recreational marijuana sales in several states has fueled revenue growth. Furthermore, the licensing of commercial recreational marijuana retailers has caused new... Learn More

5. 3D Printing & Rapid Prototyping Services in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.06

The 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping Services industry has grown over the five years to 2022, driven by rapid technological development and new applications for 3D printing technology. While the falling price of 3D printing machines encouraged many companies to purchase their own machines and bypass industry services, demand has nonetheless flourished as 3D printing has been normalizing over the past decade. Additionally, as development and design services could be done remotely, the industry was one of the few which could continue operations unabated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, leading to 7.1% growth in that year.... Learn More

6. Cryogenic Biobanking Services in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.09

The Cryogenic Biobanking Services industry is a critical resource for modern scientific research, particularly with respect to disease researchers, pharmaceutical companies and biotechnology researchers. Using cryogenic storage facilities to house samples, operators in this industry catalog biospecimens by genetic or environmental characteristics for use by researchers who require specimens with these traits. Biobanks have become an increasingly vital tool in medical research by producing studies and innovation that have improved public health outcomes. As a result, funding allocated toward biobanks has expanded over the five years to 2022. Of note, industry services spiked in demand in response to the COVID-19... Learn More

7. 3D Printer Manufacturing in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.17

Operators in the 3D Printer Manufacturing industry manufacture three-dimensional (3D) printers. 3D printing is considered a form of additive manufacturing, which involves taking a raw material and melting it into microscopic layers until it creates a 3D object. It differs from subtractive manufacturing, which removes material from an object to achieve the desired shape. While the 3D printing industry is nearly three decades old, it has surged ahead over recent years. The industry has been driven by rapid technological developments, falling costs and new applications for 3D-printing technology. Thus, over the five years to 2022, industry revenue is expected to... Learn More

8. Online Hotel Booking in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.26

The Online Hotel Booking industry comprises establishments that primarily provide hotel booking services via online platforms. These websites serve as third-party platforms through which customers can research and make reservations with the hotels. Consequently, this industry excludes hotels that offer direct bookings on their websites and brick-and-mortar travel agencies. Over the five years to 2021, the industry benefited from strong growth in the percentage of business conducted online, indicating more individuals are willing to make online reservations. Nevertheless, the industry was hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak that led to a substantial decline in travel rates. As a result,... Learn More

9. Nondestructive Testing Services in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.37

Nondestructive testing (NDT) is used for numerous applications across a wide range of markets, from manufacturing plants and construction sites to nuclear power plants, oil refineries and shipyards. NDT services are used to detect flaws, cracks, variations and minute changes in structures and surface finish without damaging the products being tested. Over the five years to 2022, industry revenue is expected to rise an annualized of 2.0% to $4.0 billion. Overall, the industry has benefited due to rapidly changing technology and the increasing complexity of products and processes that need testing have boosted demand for industry services. However, industry performance... Learn More

10. Foreign Currency Exchange Services in the US

2022 Overall Risk Score: 3.39

The Foreign Currency Exchange Services industry was aided over the five years to 2021 by continued growth in international trade and travel. Downstream corporate clients rely on industry operators for business-to-business payment services, while downstream individuals generally use credit and debit card processing services and currency exchange offerings. The anticipated 2.7% annualized increase in the total value of world trade has boosted demand from these major markets during the five-year period. Moreover, technological change in the form of improved debit card offerings and mobile apps has made industry services more convenient. As a result of these trends, industry revenue is... Learn More