2014 Best & Worst States

West Virginia Is 35th Best State for Business 2014

J.P. Donlon

May 8, 2014

Previous State: Minnesota Next State: Maine

No. 35 West Virginia

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’12-’13: 5.1 % Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): 0.8 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 5.9 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -0.8 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration 2013: -1,894 Rank: 28 State Government State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,375 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 558.5 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 9.7% Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -0.15%

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’12-’13: 5.1
% Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): 0.8

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 5.9
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -0.8

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration 2013: -1,894
Rank: 28

State Government

State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,375
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 558.5

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 9.7%
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -0.15%

Key Companies
International Coal Group Inc. MTR Gaming United Bankshares

Development Trend Indicator: Neutral
Cut in worker’s comp rates helps offset troubles besetting coal industry.

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

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

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West Virginia Is 35th Best State for Business 2014

No. 35 West Virginia

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