Kentucky is the 29th Best State for Business 2013

Previous State: Arkansas Next State: Minnesota

No. 29Kentucky

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP 
  • % Growth ’10-’11: 0.5
  • % Growth ’10-’11 v. Nat’l Avg. (1.5%): -1.0

Unemployment

  • Unemployment Rate Dec. 2012 %: 8
  • Comparison with Nat’l Rate (7.80%): 0.2

Domestic Migration

  • Domestic Net Migration ’10-’11: 5,761
  • Rank: 16

State Government

  • Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 3,323
  • State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 582.7

State-Local Tax Burden

  • Rate (%): 8.1
  • Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -1.76
Key Companies
  • Humana
  • YUM! Brands
  • Ashland
  • Brown-Forman
Development Trend Indicator: Neutral
Blue-ribbon panel recommended service taxes and other business disincentives.
CEO Comments
“We find several states today as ‘real comers.’ This is especially true with Kentucky, Louisiana, North Dakota, Montana and Tennessee (although it has been on a fast track somewhat longer than the others).”

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

Previous State: #28 Arkansas Next State: #30 Minnesota

J.P. Donlon

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

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J.P. Donlon

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