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21. Wisconsin

Businesses in the Badger State are bothered by an uneven supply of skilled workers, but the state still digs innovation.

George Kavallines | CNBC
Category
Score
2017 Rank
2016 Rank
Workforce 270 28 (Tie) 26 (Tie)
Infrastructure 178 26 (Tie) 19
Cost of Doing Business 196 22 (Tie) 28
Economy 151 28 31
Quality of Life 160 24 (Tie) 15
Technology & Innovation 135 17 19 (Tie)
Education 125 15 (Tie) 11 (Tie)
Business Friendliness 74 27 36
Access to Capital 56 25 13
Cost of Living 27 24 23
Overall 1372 21 23

Economic Profile

Governor: Scott Walker, Republican

Population: 5,778,708

GDP growth (Q4 2016): 0.9 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2017): 3.1 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 7.9 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 7.65 percent

Gasoline tax: 32.90 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook (Moody's, S&P): Aa2, AA stable

Major private employers: Wal-Mart, Johnson Controls

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 (excluding 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence

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