16. Idaho

The Gem State is a bargain with its low costs. It is also among the best at training its workers. Jobs are returning slowly, despite surging economic growth.

Published 4:17 PM ET Tue, 24 June 2014 Updated 3:23 PM ET Wed, 2 July 2014 CNBC.com

Category	Score	2014 Rank	2013 Rank
Cost of Doing Business	326	8	7
Workforce	202	8 (Tie)	14
Quality of Life	193	16 (Tie)	16
Infrastructure & Transportation	165	34	20
Economy	166	42	31
Education	46	45	33
Technology & Innovation	91	41	37
Business Friendliness	162	6	5
Cost of Living	40	11	3
Access to Capital	15	21 (Tie)	39
Overall	1406	16	10

Economic Profile

Governor: Butch Otter, Republican

Population: 1,612,136

GDP growth: 4.1 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2014): 5 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 7.4 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 7.4 percent

Gasoline tax: 43 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa1/stable

Major private employer: St. Lukes's Health System

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Idaho Business Review

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