43. New Jersey

The Garden State cultivates young minds with one of the best education systems in the country. But it is an expensive state with a lagging economy.

Published 4:19 PM ET Tue, 24 June 2014 Updated 3:15 PM ET Wed, 2 July 2014 CNBC.com

Category	Score	2014 Rank	2013 Rank
Cost of Doing Business	117	43 (Tie)	42
Workforce	156	23	21
Quality of Life	192	18	23
Infrastructure & Transportation	95	47	43
Economy	138	47	48
Education	118	4	1
Technology & Innovation	218	15	15
Business Friendliness	63	37	41
Cost of Living	7	44	46
Access to Capital	20	11 (Tie)	9
Overall	1124	43	42

Economic Profile

Governor: Chris Christie, Republican

Population: 8,899,339

GDP growth: 1.1 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2014): 6.9 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 9 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 8.97 percent

Gasoline tax: 33 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa3/negative

Major private employer: Wakefern Food Corporation

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

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