12. Iowa

An inexpensive place with a friendly regulatory climate, Iowa ranks well annually. But the state’s workforce is less than a bumper crop, with a shortage of skilled labor.

Published 4:16 PM ET Tue, 24 June 2014 Updated 3:24 PM ET Wed, 2 July 2014 CNBC.com

Category	Score	2014 Rank	2013 Rank
Cost of Doing Business	334	7	13
Workforce	128	37	40
Quality of Life	183	20	14
Infrastructure & Transportation	192	25 (Tie)	28
Economy	245	18	5
Education	84	22 (Tie)	15
Technology & Innovation	130	29	30
Business Friendliness	156	9	9
Cost of Living	39	12 (Tie)	16
Access to Capital	1	49 (Tie)	31
Overall	1492	12	11

Economic Profile

Governor: Terry Branstad, Republican

Population: 3,090,416

GDP growth: 2.9 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2014): 4.3 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 12 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 8.98 percent

Gasoline tax: 40 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/stable

Major private employer: Hy-Vee Food Stores

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

America's Top States For Business

America's Top States For Business '14

CNBC unveils its 8th annual America's Top States for Business--see where your state ranks.
Inside the Kansas tax cuts

A massive tax-cutting package championed by the Kansas governor is having unintended consequences.
Businesses fear Indiana religious act

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a religious freedom act that the state's business community strongly opposes.
Apple's $2B global command center in AZ

Apple plans one of its largest investments ever—a $2 billion center in Mesa, Arizona, powered largely by solar energy.

More From America's Top States For Business

Scott Cohn

Special Correspondent, CNBC

Top States for Business

America's Top States for Business 2023: See the full rankings

CNBC unveils its 16th annual America's Top States for Business ranking, scoring all 50 states on 86 measures of competitiveness across 10 broad categories.
These are the 10 American states that are the most prepared for extreme weather

Floods, extreme heat, and wildfire smoke are among climate risks touching all our lives, but where you live in the U.S. makes a big difference in level of risk.
These are the states in America that are the least prepared for extreme weather

Extreme weather is increasing, and these states are the worst in the U.S. at being prepared to protect residents and businesses.

From the Governors

Low-tax Wyoming chases American Dream

With an S&P Triple A rating, booming energy market and no or low taxes, Wyoming makes chasing the American Dream possible.

Latest Special Reports

Cities of Success

The pandemic and the success of startup culture have sparked the emergence of new hubs for businesses outside of traditional power centers of New York, Chicago, Houston and San Francisco. These Cities of Success each have used unique characteristics – pop culture influence, clusters of great universities, friendly geography or forward-thinking local governments – to attract major companies and nurture an entrepreneurial community around them.
Workforce Wire

The Workforce Wire provides news and information on what employers and executives are doing to adapt to the ever-changing workplace.
Sustainable Future

More than ever, the hope for a sustainable world has gained traction among the next generation of businesses, policymakers and investors. CNBC’s Sustainable Future focuses on how smart investments, new ideas and tech innovation can generate commerce — and a world — with staying power.