America's Top States For Business

5. North Carolina

Category Score 2014 Rank 2013 Rank
Cost of Doing Business25123 (Tie)32
Workforce21943
Quality of Life1263430
Infrastructure & Transportation20321 (Tie)31
Economy295413
Education673315
Technology & Innovation22212 (Tie)10
Business Friendliness1321918
Cost of Living371420
Access to Capital1717 (Tie)15
Overall1569512

Economic Profile

Governor: Pat McCrory

Population: 9,848,060

GDP growth: 2.3 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2014): 6.2 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 6.9 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 5.8 percent

Gasoline tax: 56 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/stable

Major private employer: Wal-Mart

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, North Carolina FY 2013 CAFR

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