America's Top States For Business 2011

#3 North Carolina

Top States 2011: North Carolina

Category
Score
2011 Rank
2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 238 9 15
Workforce 261 3 3
Quality of Life 163 33 32
Infrastructure & Transportation 234 3 10
Economy 84 41 37
Education 125 18 26
Technology & Innovation 171 12 11
Business Friendliness 154 11 13
Access to Capital 80 11 10
Cost of Living 29 22 23
OVERALL 1539 3 4

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Governor: Beverly Perdue (D)

Population: 9,380,884

GDP (2009 per capita): $38,437

Unemployment rate (May 2011): 9.7 percent

Foreclosure rate (May 2011): One per 1,584 households

Budget gap (projected 2012): $2.4 billion

Corporate tax rate: 6.9 percent

Largest employers: Food Lion, Wells Fargo, Lowes Home Centers

Sources: US Government, RealtyTrac, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities, Federation of Tax Administrators, Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development