The Golden State shines on innovation and capital, but high costs and oppressive regulations weigh.
California Score and Ranking
| Category | 2021 Score | 2021 Rank | 2019 Rank | 2021 Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of Doing Business | 90 | 47 | 50 | F |
| Infrastructure | 184 | 27 | 33 | C |
| Life, Health & Inclusion | 193 | 26 | -- | C |
| Workforce | 243 | 4 | 10 | A |
| Economy | 139 | 27 | 19 | B- |
| Business Friendliness | 11 | 50 | 50 | F |
| Access to Capital | 175 | 1 | 1 | A+ |
| Technology & Innovation | 143 | 1 | 1 | A+ |
| Education | 69 | 36 | 30 | D+ |
| Cost of Living | 5 | 48 | 49 | F |
| Overall | 1252 | 33 | 32 | -- |
Economic Profile
Governor: Gavin Newsom, Democrat
Population: 39,368,078
GDP growth (Q1 2021): 6.3%
Unemployment rate (May 2021): 7.9%
Top corporate tax rate: 8.84%
Top individual income tax rate: 12.3%
Gasoline tax: 63.05 cents/gallon
Bond rating: (Moody's/S&P): Aa2, stable/AA-, stable
Major private employers: Kaiser Permanente, Apple
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
