America's Top States for Business 2018

9. North Carolina

Biotechnology remains a key industry along the Research Triangle in North Carolina
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Category Score 2018 Rank 2017 Rank Grade
Workforce28197 (Tie)A-
Infrastructure2062120 (Tie)C+
Cost of Doing Business222169A-
Economy238615 (Tie)A
Quality of Life1452828 (Tie)D+
Technology & Innovation153116B+
Education803732D
Business Friendliness83238 (Tie)C+
Access to Capital8299 (Tie)A-
Cost of Living331819B
[[link#105237323#Overall]]15239[[link#104395397#5]]-

Economic Profile

Governor: Roy Cooper, Democrat

Population: 10,273,419

GDP growth (Q4 2017): 2.9 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2018): 4.3 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 3 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 5.499 percent

Gasoline tax: 34.35 cents/gallon

Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aaa, stable/AAA, stable

Major private employers: Wal-Mart, Bank of America

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 (excluding 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence

America's Top States for Business 2018
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