CNBC's tenth annual study once again puts all 50 states to the test, measuring them on more than 60 different metrics in ten key categories of competitiveness.

3. Colorado

Published Tue, Jul 12 20164:40 PM EDTUpdated Mon, Jun 12 20173:10 PM EDT

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Source: George Kavallines

Category	Score	2016 Rank	2015 Rank
Workforce	283	1	16 (Tie)
Cost of Doing Business	126	37	36
Infrastructure	181	29	14 (Tie)
Economy	288	2	3
Quality of Life	219	12	9 (Tie)
Technology & Innovation	183	8	5
Edcucation	104	25	24
Business Friendliness	99	9	18
Cost of Living	29	32	31
Access to Capital	43	8	8 (Tie)
Overall	1555	3	4

Economic Profile

Governor: John Hickenlooper, Democrat

Population: 5,456,574

GDP growth: 3.6 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2016): 3.4 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 4.63 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 4.63 percent

Gasoline tax: 40.40 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa1, stable

Major private employers: Wal-Mart, Centura Health, Dish Network Corp.

Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence