Categories: 2014 Best & Worst States

Wisconsin is the 14th Best State for Business 2014

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No. 14 Wisconsin

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’12-’13: 1.7 % Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): -1 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 6.2 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -0.5 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration 2013: -8,158 Rank: 39 State Government State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,292 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 503 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 11.1% Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): 1.21%

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’12-’13: 1.7
% Growth ’11-’12 v. Nat’l Avg. (2.5%): -1

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2013 %: 6.2
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (6.70%): -0.5

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration 2013: -8,158
Rank: 39

State Government

State Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’13 ($): 4,292
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 503

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 11.1%
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): 1.21%

Key Companies
Johnson Controls Kohl’s Manpower Oshkosh Harley-Davidson Rockwell Automation

Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Continues climb in tax-friendliness and now tackles regulatory reform.

CEO Comments
“Gov. Walker has turned around Wisconsin’s tax and business climate. A significant improvement over previous administrations.” “Wisconsin, with Gov. Walkers reforms is becoming a very good place to do business. Wis. pensions are fully funded. The state is running a surplus and cutting taxes.” “Wisconsin is making an effort to reduce regulation and tax problems for businesses. Governor Walker has done an excellent job turning Wisconsin around and needs to continue to build a positive environment for business in the state.” “With respect to NY, NJ and PA,there is actually a bimodal ranking. For example, there are some parts of the workforce that are exceptional (eg great academic institutions, professionals. But the rest of the work force is not nearly as accomplished. Great arts, but terrible schools. CA taxes, cost of living, out of control budget, unaccountable legislature, regulatory environment, unstable tectonic plates..Other than that…..” “Wisconsin is moving in the right direction on taxes and regulations. Lower cost simplified communications on regulations.”

CEO Comments

“Gov. Walker has turned around Wisconsin’s tax and business climate. A significant improvement over previous administrations.”

“Wisconsin, with Gov. Walkers reforms is becoming a very good place to do business. Wis. pensions are fully funded. The state is running a surplus and cutting taxes.”

“Wisconsin is making an effort to reduce regulation and tax problems for businesses. Governor Walker has done an excellent job turning Wisconsin around and needs to continue to build a positive environment for business in the state.”

“With respect to NY, NJ and PA,there is actually a bimodal ranking. For example, there are some parts of the workforce that are exceptional (eg great academic institutions, professionals. But the rest of the work force is not nearly as accomplished. Great arts, but terrible schools. CA taxes, cost of living, out of control budget, unaccountable legislature, regulatory environment, unstable tectonic plates..Other than that…..”

“Wisconsin is moving in the right direction on taxes and regulations. Lower cost simplified communications on regulations.”

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.