| Category | Score | 2013 Rank | 2012 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Doing Business | 216 | 32 | 21 |
| Workforce | 226 | 3 | 3 |
| Quality of Life | 137 | 30 | 26 |
| Infrastructure & Transportation | 181 | 31 | 11 |
| Economy | 246 | 13 | 31 |
| Education | 86 | 15 | 13 |
| Technology & Innovation | 215 | 10 | 9 |
| Business Friendliness | 132 | 18 | 8 |
| Cost of Living | 31 | 20 | 21 |
| Access to Capital | 18 | 15 | 18 |
| Overall | 1488 | 12 | 4 |
ECONOMIC PROFILE
Governor: Pat McCrory (R)
Population: Â 9,752,073
GDP growth: 2.7 percent
Unemployment rate (May 2013): 8.8 percent
Top corporate rate: 6.9 percent
Top individual tax rate: 7.75 percent         Â
Gasoline tax: 37.8 cents/gallon
Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/Stable (multiple)
Major private employers: Merrill Lynch & Co., Nortel Networks Corp., Â Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, Mission Hospitals, Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center, Smithfield Packing Co. Inc.,US Airways, Vidant Medical Center, Babcock & Wilcox Co., Bank of America Corp, East Carolina University, Garinger Transportation, University of North Carolina Hospitals
Economic profile sources: American Petroleum Institute (April 2013), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2012), Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2013 release), CareerOneStop, Moody's Investors Service (senior-most tax-backed ratings), National Governors Association, Tax Foundation (2013), U.S. Census Bureau (2012 estimate)