Categories: 2014 Best & Worst States

Louisiana is the 9th Best State for Business 2014

Previous State: Nevada Next State: Georgia

No. 09 Louisiana

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’12-’13: 1.3 % Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): -1 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 5.7 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -1 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration 2013: -2,492 Rank: 32 State Government State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,345 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 605.1 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 7.8% Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -2.11%

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’12-’13: 1.3
% Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): -1

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 5.7
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -1

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration 2013: -2,492
Rank: 32

State Government

State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,345
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 605.1

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 7.8%
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -2.11%

Key Companies
Shaw Group CenturyLink Albemarle

Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Its high-tech side emerges by landing major IBM site for Baton Rouge.

CEO Comments
“Louisiana has worked very diligently to change the business environment through lower taxation on the business community. They have worked with the education community to address workforce needs specific to the business demand and created programs to enhance specific areas of shortage.” “Louisiana has made significant progress in becoming more business friendly in the last four years. They have made a remarkable turnaround in the perception of the state in the U.S. business community.” “Louisiana has been very supportive of our current and future business goals. The state has consistently supported the business’ aim of maintaining manufacturing in Southeast Louisiana. Louisiana Tax Incentives are generally the best that I have found.” “Louisiana continues to improve on drawing big business to LA outside the usual spectrum of LA industry. Software, entertainment, manufacturing, aerospace and more. It’s all happening now. It opens the door for a wider range of clientele for my line of work.” “Louisiana offers the most custom packages of any state. And Faststart is awesome. Quality K-12 education and having “right to work” is very important.”

CEO Comments

“Louisiana has worked very diligently to change the business environment through lower taxation on the business community. They have worked with the education community to address workforce needs specific to the business demand and created programs to enhance specific areas of shortage.”

“Louisiana has made significant progress in becoming more business friendly in the last four years. They have made a remarkable turnaround in the perception of the state in the U.S. business community.”

“Louisiana has been very supportive of our current and future business goals. The state has consistently supported the business’ aim of maintaining manufacturing in Southeast Louisiana. Louisiana Tax Incentives are generally the best that I have found.”

“Louisiana continues to improve on drawing big business to LA outside the usual spectrum of LA industry. Software, entertainment, manufacturing, aerospace and more. It’s all happening now. It opens the door for a wider range of clientele for my line of work.”

“Louisiana offers the most custom packages of any state. And Faststart is awesome. Quality K-12 education and having “right to work” is very important.”

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.