Categories: Best & Worst States for Business

Colorado is the 11th Best State for Business 2012

No. 11

Colorado

Taxation and Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’07-’10: 2.84 % Growth ’07-’10 v. Nat’l Avg. (-0.33%): 3.17 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2011 %: 7.90 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (8.50%): -0.60 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration ’00-’09: 202,735 Rank: 10 State Government Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 3,335 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 541.89 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 8.59 Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.8%): -1.21

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’07-’10: 2.84
% Growth ’07-’10 v. Nat’l Avg. (-0.33%): 3.17

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2011 %: 7.90
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (8.50%): -0.60

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration ’00-’09: 202,735
Rank: 10

State Government

Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 3,335
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 541.89

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 8.59
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.8%): -1.21

Key Companies
Newmont Mining Liberty Global

Development Trend Indicator: Neutral
Business has backed health-insurance exchange; entrepreneurs still like the mountains.

CEO Comments
“Colorado is great for living and governance. Only problem is not on a coast.” “Colorado’s local sales tax structure is ludicrous.”

Sources:
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
NewGeography.com
The Tax Foundation

Chief Executive

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