West Virginia is the 34th Best State for Business 2013

Previous State: Alaska Next State: Maine

No. 34West Virginia

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP 
  • % Growth ’10-’11: 4.5
  • % Growth ’10-’11 v. Nat’l Avg. (1.5%): 3.0

Unemployment

  • Unemployment Rate Dec. 2012 %: 7.4
  • Comparison with Nat’l Rate (7.80%): -0.4

Domestic Migration

  • Domestic Net Migration ’10-’11: 2,814
  • Rank: 19

State Government

  • Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 3,860
  • State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 558.5

State-Local Tax Burden

  • Rate (%): 8.9
  • Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -0.96
Key Companies
  • International Coal Group Inc.
  • MTR Gaming
  • United Bankshares
Development Trend Indicator: Neutral
Maintains pro-business stance as it seeks to solve fracking dilemma.

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

Previous State: #33 Alaska Next State: #35 Maine


J.P. Donlon

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

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J.P. Donlon

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