Industries with Riskiest Business Environments in United States in 2025

• 1. Telecommunication Networking Equipment Manufacturing in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 8

  The Telecommunication Networking Equipment Manufacturing industry in the US is undergoing substantial transformations due to a blend of rising input costs, technological advancements, and evolving market demands. While the sector faces challenges from increased production expenses linked to soaring copper prices and a global semiconductor shortage, there’s hope on the horizon from federal support through the CHIPS Act and the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access and ...

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• 2. Printing in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Printing is in the midst of a considerable and steady decline as digital products and services continue to displace printed materials. The two largest markets, advertising and publishing, have accelerated their online footprint, reducing printing demand. Recent years have witnessed a significant decline in newspaper and magazine subscriptions, exacerbating the challenges for printers. Even though printing technology has advanced, demand for traditional print has plummeted, leaving printers wi...

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• 3. Oil and Gas Drilling Equipment Manufacturing in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Major global events, like the pandemic and the Ukraine war, have greatly impacted machinery manufacturers by creating significant volatility in commodity prices. Major production and travel slowdowns harmed demand for oil and gas, resulting in fewer extraction projects and lowering the need for machinery. Still, Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to sanctions placed on Russia by various countries, which led to surging oil and gas prices. This uptick in prices led to strong US oil and gas produc...

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• 4. Copper, Nickel, Lead & Zinc Mining in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Copper, Nickel, Lead and Zinc Miners have seen modest revenue growth since 2019, in spite of disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and volatile demand from China. Minerals produced by the industry are key inputs in construction, electronics and automobiles, leading demand to fluctuate in unison with overall global economic activity. Specifically, China's vast appetite for copper and other metals creates a robust and direct relationship between Chinese demand and global market condit...

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• 5. Newsprint Manufacturing in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  The shift to digital platforms has deteriorated the position of the Newsprint Manufacturing industry over the past two decades, with demand for traditional print media like newspapers and printed advertisements plummeting and COVID-19 accelerating the push toward digitalization. In addition to these structural changes, trade tensions and tariffs, notably between the US and Canada, have impacted the industry, increasing costs and affecting imported newsprint availability, causing uncertainty f...

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• 6. Iron Ore Mining in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Iron ore miners are highly susceptible to changes in industrial production. This is why iron ore miners were significantly impacted at the start of the period because of the pandemic. Steel production took a nosedive and many mines shut down temporarily. As the economy recovered, miners saw triple-digit growth in 2021, since steel prices skyrocketed amid supply chain constraints. This allowed industry revenue to remain elevated for the rest of the period. From 2022 to 2024, while production b...

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• 7. Casting Agencies in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Casting agencies have endured considerable volatility in recent years due to higher economic uncertainty and the evolution of digital streaming among consumers. Casting directors' expertise lies in their ability to spot strong candidates that also match the specific requests of the project's creators, though it's ultimately the producer of the project that decides which actor will be cast. The actor, the casting director and the actor's agent receive a commission based on the pay schedule of ...

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• 8. Chicken & Turkey Meat Production in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  The poultry industry has experienced notable revenue growth, driven by shifting consumer preferences and robust production levels. With beef supplies at historic lows and prices reaching unprecedented highs in the face of widespread droughts and culling, consumers are turning to chicken as a cost-effective protein alternative. This shift is further bolstered by poultry's health benefits, including its lean protein content and associations with heart health. As a result,...

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• 9. Paper Wholesaling in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Digitalization has deteriorated demand for traditional paper products. Demand for paper products has fallen as individuals, retailers, other wholesalers and corporate clients have adopted digital technology to perform tasks more efficiently and at a lower cost, reducing the need for paper. Moreover, as sales have moved online, wholesalers have been further cut out of the paper supply chain as more customers purchase directly from superstores and manufacturers. As the COVID-19 pandemic acceler...

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• 10. Oil Drilling & Gas Extraction in the US

  Business Environment Risk for 2025: 7

  Oil and gas producers have experienced high volatility in recent years. The pandemic halted the economy and ripped away steady growth as restrictions limited the need for oil and gas. The conflict in Ukraine added to the uncertainty, as the reliance on Russian oil and gas was distributed between domestic producers and other sources. As the economy recovered, the need for oil and gas shot up quicker than supply could match, causing prices to surge and generating substantial returns. Nonetheles...

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