Categories: 2014 Best & Worst States

Indiana is the 6th Best State for Business 2014

Previous State: South Carolina Next State: Arizona

No. 06 Indiana

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’12-’13: 2.1 % Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): 0.8 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 6.9 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): 0.2 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration 2013: -1,179 Rank: 25 State Government State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 3,227 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 536.3 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 9.6% Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -0.27%

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’12-’13: 2.1
% Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): 0.8

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 6.9
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): 0.2

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration 2013: -1,179
Rank: 25

State Government

State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 3,227
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 536.3

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 9.6%
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -0.27%

Key Companies
Eli Lilly and Company Republic Airways Holdings Inc. Wellpoint Steel Dynamics Cummins Nisource

Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Presses friendliness by trimming several taxes; right to work blossoms.

CEO Comments
“I have plants in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Indiana is by far the best of the three for business climate. Ohio is gaining in recent years. But Kentucky remains mired in the past in terms of education and labor relations. And the state treasury’s own fiscal condition is ominous—at some point in the future that will make things even worse for business in Kentucky.” “Indiana rocks. Having strong government leadership and a balanced budget trickles down to decisions that affect the business environment.”

CEO Comments

“I have plants in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Indiana is by far the best of the three for business climate. Ohio is gaining in recent years. But Kentucky remains mired in the past in terms of education and labor relations. And the state treasury’s own fiscal condition is ominous—at some point in the future that will make things even worse for business in Kentucky.”

“Indiana rocks. Having strong government leadership and a balanced budget trickles down to decisions that affect the business environment.”

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

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

J.P. Donlon

J.P. Donlon is Editor Emeritus of Chief Executive magazine.