Categories: 2014 Best & Worst States

Pennsylvania is 42nd Best State for Business 2014

Previous State: Maryland Next State: Hawaii

No. 42 Pennsylvania

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’12-’13: 0.7 % 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: -30,718 Rank: 46 State Government State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 3,667 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 478.4 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 10.2% Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): 0.38%

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’12-’13: 0.7
% 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: -30,718
Rank: 46

State Government

State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 3,667
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 478.4

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 10.2%
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): 0.38%

Key Companies
AmerisourceBergen Sunoco Rite Aid CIGNA PNC Financial United States Steel H.J. Heinz

Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Natural gas fuels jobs boom while state keeps holding the line on taxes.

CEO Comments
“The cost of doing business on the east coast vs. Midwest is dramatically different. I continue to move jobs out of PA and into other operations in KS, NE and ND as the costs (healthcare, workers comp) are significantly higher and worker productivity levels are significantly lower. East Coast employees have learned how to game the system and the elected officials appear to be OK with this.” “I worked in Harrisburg PA. for most of 2013. There was a lot of opportunity, but the competition was challenging. I have worked in MD for the last four months and have had a lot of success.” “NY does not appreciate small business. NY punishes well-run businesses and rewards only very large, well-connected businesses. Businesses are punished for growing and hiring workers.”

CEO Comments

“The cost of doing business on the east coast vs. Midwest is dramatically different. I continue to move jobs out of PA and into other operations in KS, NE and ND as the costs (healthcare, workers comp) are significantly higher and worker productivity levels are significantly lower. East Coast employees have learned how to game the system and the elected officials appear to be OK with this.”

“I worked in Harrisburg PA. for most of 2013. There was a lot of opportunity, but the competition was challenging. I have worked in MD for the last four months and have had a lot of success.”

“NY does not appreciate small business. NY punishes well-run businesses and rewards only very large, well-connected businesses. Businesses are punished for growing and hiring workers.”

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.