Categories: Best & Worst States for Business

Texas is the Best State for Business 2012

No. 1

Texas

Taxation and Regulations
Workforce Quality
Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP 
  • % Growth ’07-’10: 3.13
  • % Growth ’07-’10 v. Nat’l Avg. (-0.33%): 3.46

Unemployment

  • Unemployment Rate Dec. 2011 %: 7.80
  • Comparison with Nat’l Rate (8.50%): -0.70

Domestic Migration

  • Domestic Net Migration ’00-’09: 838,126
  • Rank: 2

State Government

  • Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 1,679
  • State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 563.86

State-Local Tax Burden

  • Rate (%): 7.89
  • Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.8%): -1.91
Key Companies
  • ExxonMobil Corp.
  • AT&T Inc.
  • Dell Inc.
  • ConocoPhillips
  • AMR Corp.
  • Fluor
  • Halliburton
  • Southwest Airlines
Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Still a leading jobs magnet, but persistent drought pinches many businesses.
CEO Comments
“Texas—what else needs to be said—great people, low tax, low regulation, great central location.”

“Texas continues to develop and grow businesses. The state attracts top-level talent across the income divisions. Laws and taxation are creating opportunities that benefit expansion and job growth.”

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


Chief Executive

Chief Executive magazine (published since 1977) is the definitive source that CEOs turn to for insight and ideas that help increase their effectiveness and grow their business. Chief Executive Group also produces e-newsletters and online content at chiefexecutive.net and manages Chief Executive Network and other executive peer groups, as well as conferences and roundtables that enable top corporate officers to discuss key subjects and share their experiences within a community of peers. Chief Executive facilitates the annual “CEO of the Year,” a prestigious honor bestowed upon an outstanding corporate leader, nominated and selected by a group of peers, and is known throughout the U.S. and elsewhere for its annual ranking of Best & Worst States for Business. Visit www.chiefexecutive.net for more information.

Share
Published by
Chief Executive
13 years ago

Recent Posts

The Energy Audit Is In: Why Executive Burnout Puts Strategy—And The Whole Business—At Risk

Executive energy is not a private concern to be managed behind closed doors. It’s a…

3 hours ago

From ‘Weak’ To ‘Good’: CEO Optimism Improves In October

Our latest survey finds CEOs increasingly confident in their ability to find growth in the…

11 hours ago

How Awake Window & Door Has Championed Second-Chance Hiring

More than half of the manufacturer’s employee base is formerly incarcerated—tapping into an underutilized talent…

3 days ago

The Crisis Of Financial Noise—And How To Stop It

When credible voices retreat, social media "hacks" fill the void. Northwestern Mutual's CEO shares four…

4 days ago

Why Every CEO Needs To Own The Pipeline Again

In a buyer-led market with stretched sales cycles, quarterly reviews aren't enough. CEOs need weekly…

4 days ago

The Power Of Unlike Notions

Getting to know the many sides of your team members—their hobbies, interests, backgrounds, previous work…

4 days ago