Sporting goods retailers
NAICS Code: 459110
BLS projects Sporting goods retailers to contract -5.8% through 2034 - 8.2 points slower than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 13% of them. It ranks among the contracting industries projected through 2034.
Where Sporting goods retailers sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Sporting goods retailers sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
-5.8% Top 87% higher than 13% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Contraction read
Signature: 45.5% mean employer AI exposure across 87 tracked public companies .
Projected decline plus a mid-sized public-company sample argues for checking adjacent occupations before treating any single firm grade as destiny.
NAICS 459110 · 299,200 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Sporting goods retailers.
Public companies in this NAICS sector
NAICS sector 44-45/44/45 bucket (includes sibling industries). 87 companies scored · mean AI exposure 45.5%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co /De/ | C |
| Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc. | C |
| Advance Auto Parts Inc | C |
| Albertsons Companies, Inc. | C |
| Amazon Com Inc | C |
| American Eagle Outfitters Inc | C |
| Aramark | C |
| Asbury Automotive Group Inc | C |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Sporting goods retailers shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Sporting goods retailers (NAICS 459110) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 308,000 | +6.4% |
| General medical and surgical hospitals; state | 305,100 | +3.8% |
| Motor vehicle manufacturing | 302,000 | +5.4% |
| Sporting goods retailers | 299,200 | -5.8% |
| Automotive body, paint, interior, and glass repair | 297,500 | +2.6% |
| Other automotive repair and maintenance | 294,500 | +0.7% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Sporting goods retailers?
As of 2024, the Sporting goods retailers industry employs approximately 299,200 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Sporting goods retailers growing or declining?
The Sporting goods retailers industry is projected to decline by 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of -17,500 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Sporting goods retailers?
87 tracked public companies in NAICS sector 44-45/44/45 (sibling industries included). Sample names include Abercrombie & Fitch Co /De/, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Inc., Advance Auto Parts Inc. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Sporting goods retailers industry?
Among 87 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 45.5% (most common grade C). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Sporting goods retailers. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next under contraction
What to do with this
Use Sporting goods retailers' employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts