Riskiest Industries in the US in 2021

1. Credit Repair Services

2021 Overall Risk Score: 7.01

The Credit Repair Services industry largely performs countercyclical to the overarching business cycle; therefore, the currently favorable economic environment, characterized by rising disposable income and low unemployment, has proved unfavorable for the industry. Additionally, many debt-ridden consumers have chosen not to seek out industry services and instead file for bankruptcy or take advantage of free online services. Consequently, industry revenue is expected to decline at an annualized rate of 7.1% to $3.0 billion over the five years to 2019, including a 10.1% decrease in 2019 alone.

Factors influencing demand for credit repair services include rising incomes in the United States, increasing... Learn More

2. Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.89

The Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry produces radio and TV broadcasting equipment, satellites, antennas, global positioning system (GPS) equipment, pagers, mobile communications equipment and cell phones. Since the industry is diverse, certain product segments may perform better than others. However, due to stiff internal and import competition, and volatility due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) industry revenue is anticipated to decline at an annualized rate of 3.0% to $24.6 billion over the five years to 2020, including estimated decline of 5.7% in 2020 alone.

While domestic companies are often at the forefront of progress in this industry, many have offshored less-profitable manufacturing activities to... Learn More

3. Printing in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.71

The Printing industry is in the midst of a decline as digital products and services continue to displace printed materials. The industry's two largest markets, advertising and publishing, both accelerated their moves online over the five years to 2020, reducing demand for printing. Additionally, declining corporate profit amid widespread shutdowns due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has decreased overall advertising expenditure. These two trends have reduced print advertising expenditure at an annualized rate of 17.7% over the five years to 2020. Other industry products, such as retail catalogs and banking forms, have also experienced low demand due to the increased... Learn More

4. VoIP in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.61

The VoIP industry has struggled over the five years to 2020, despite growing demand for the service provided by industry operators. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology converts voice communications into digital data transmitted using a high-speed connection. The industry declined during the period as competition from standard cell phone services and from free video chat services, such as FaceTime and Facebook Messenger, caused demand for industry services to decrease. IBISWorld expects industry revenue to decline at an annualized rate of 1.9% to $14.1 billion over the period. In 2020, however, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and associated stay-at-home orders have... Learn More

5. Company Research Services

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.61

The Company Research Services industry is composed of businesses that conduct research on management teams, strategic developments and the financial operations of companies in the private and public sector. Industry services are predominantly catered toward financial institutions, such as asset managers, bankers, equity traders and sales departments. As a result, demand for industry services is tied to corporate profit and research budget levels. Over the past five years, growth in corporate profit and the number of businesses in the United States have fueled industry growth. Uncertainty in financial markets has also driven new demand for industry services, as companies seek... Learn More

6. Coal Mining in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.61

The Coal Mining industry has been volatile over the five years to 2020 due to fluctuating coal prices, waning mine output and the overarching transition toward cleaner and less expensive energy alternatives. Prior to the current period, global demand for coal grew strongly as the world economy expanded, giving rise to higher coal prices. However, resumed production from some of the world's largest mines following severe weather disruptions, slowing international demand and mild United States winters have constrained demand and pressured prices. Finally, the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and accompanying lockdown procedures have stifled global industrial, manufacturing and business activity.... Learn More

7. Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.61

The Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing industry, which comprises companies that manufacture bare printed circuit boards (PCBs), is anticipated to decline over the five years to 2020. The industry is no longer competitive on a global scale due in part to a strong US dollar and a declining US manufacturing base. Since PCBs are inputs into other finished products, PCB manufacturers need to be in close proximity to other manufacturers, particularly in East Asia. Additionally, the effects of COVID-19 have greatly deteriorated the US manufacturing base and thus this industry's prospects. Taking these factors into account, IBISWorld expects industry revenue... Learn More

8. Aluminum Manufacturing in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.60

The Aluminum Manufacturing industry has endured significant volatility over the five years to 2020 due largely to fluctuations in aluminum prices, which reflect global supply and demand. While higher prices raise the cost of processing purchased aluminum, operators generally pass cost increases on to customers, resulting in higher industry revenue. Over the past five years, aluminum prices have been particularly volatile in tandem with more subdued demand from major markets. As a result, revenue has decreased an annualized 3.7% to $34.2 billion over the five years to 2020, including a decline of 15.0% in 2020 alone as complications surrounding the... Learn More

9. Municipal Building Construction in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.54

The Municipal Building Construction industry includes various noncommercial markets, such as healthcare, educational, religious, governmental and recreational facilities. Government funding accounts for almost all educational and public building construction, while the private sector funds most healthcare construction. Over the five years to 2020, local and state government spending has expanded, rising an annualized 0.3%, which has aided industry revenue growth during the period. However, major deadfalls in state and local tax revenue as a result of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic have sent local and state government investment tumbling in 2020, as states pay out millions of unemployment insurance claims, which... Learn More

10. Printing Services in the US

2021 Overall Risk Score: 6.52

The Printing Services industry has declined over the five years to 2020 as demand for printing waned. The industry provides prepress work such as typesetting, tradebinding, mounting and print-plate creation. Demand for printing services is highly correlated with the performance of the Printing industry (IBISWorld report 32311) and demand for book, newspaper and magazine publishing, both of which faced similar periods of decline. This contraction occurred due to the growing popularity of online media, causing many companies to reduce print advertising expenditures. The negative operating landscape was further exacerbated by the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in 2020, which has forced... Learn More