15. Wisconsin

The Badger State boasts a strong infrastructure, but persistent budget woes threaten to curdle the state’s economy.

Category
Score
2015 Rank
2014 Rank
Workforce 206 31 40
Cost of Doing Business 188 26 26
Infrastructure 226 5 (Tie) 10
Economy 166 30 22
Quality of Life 187 23 24
Technology & Innovation 147 20 20
Education 121 14 10
Business Friendliness 61 28 (Tie) 25
Cost of Living 38 26 23
Access to Capital 37 14 37
Overall 1377 15 17

Economic Profile

Governor: Scott Walker, Republican

Population: 5,757,564

GDP growth: 1.0 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2015): 4.6 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 7.9 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 7.65 percent

Gasoline tax: 51 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa2/positive

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, Wisconsin FY 2014 CAFR

FULL LIST: 2015 TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

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