2. Texas

The Lone Star State is without peer when it comes to consistent competitiveness, but education needs big improvement.

Top States Texas
Source: George Kavallines
Category
Score
2016 Rank
2015 Rank
Workforce 266 8 20
Cost of Doing Business 193 23 21
Infrastructure 239 2 (Tie) 1
Economy 292 1 2
Quality of Life 138 37 (Tie) 33 (Tie)
Technology & Innovation 178 10 11 (Tie)
Education 79 40 (Tie) 28
Business Friendliness 90 18 14
Cost of Living 45 21 15
Access to Capital 44 7 6
Overall 1564 2 2

Economic Profile

Governor: Greg Abbott, Republican

Population: 27,469,114

GDP growth: 3.8 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2016): 4.4 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 0 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 0 percent

Gasoline tax: 38.40 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa, stable

Major private employers: H-E-B Super Market Chain, Exxon Mobil

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

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