10. Florida

Jobs and the overall economy brighten the Sunshine State, but education and the high cost of living cast shadows.

Top States Florida
Source: George Kavallines
Category
Score
2016 Rank
2015 Rank
Workforce 246 14 19
Cost of Doing Business 161 32 31
Infrastructure 211 10 16
Economy 270 4 11 (Tie)
Quality of Life 181 26 32
Technology & Innovation 148 17 (Tie) 17
Education 103 26 26 (Tie)
Business Friendliness 77 22 27
Cost of Living 35 28 27
Access to Capital 37 14 15
Overall 1469 10 16

Economic Profile

Governor: Rick Scott, Republican

Population: 20,271,272

GDP growth: 3.1 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2016): 4.7 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 5.5 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 0 percent

Gasoline tax: 54.98 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa1, stable

Major private employers: Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, NextEra Energy, Inc.

Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Latest Special Reports

  • CNBC Changemakers

    CNBC Changemakers: Women Transforming Business is an annual list spotlighting women whose accomplishments have left an indelible mark on the business world.

  • Geoff Cutmore, Steve Sedgwick and Karen Tso lead you into the open of the European markets.

  • The Just 100 is an annual ranking of America’s largest publicly traded companies on issues that define 'just' business behavior and reflect the priorities of the American public, produced in partnership with research nonprofit Just Capital.