America's Top States For Business 2013

#24 Arkansas

Little Rock, Arkansas
CWells Photography | Flickr | Getty Images
Little Rock, Arkansas
Category
Score
2013 Rank
2012 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 333 4 2
Workforce 203 7 11
Quality of Life 107 40 43
Infrastructure & Transportation 166 34 31
Economy 231 18 20
Education 86 15 28
Technology & Innovation 99 38 41
Business Friendliness 57 43 32
Cost of Living 44 7 5
Access to Capital 7 37 40
Overall 1333 24 20

Governor: Mike Beebe (D)

Population: 2,949,131

GDP growth: 1.3 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2013): 7.3 percent

Top corporate rate: 6.5 percent

Top Individual tax rate: 7 percent

Gasoline tax: 21.8 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa1/Stable

Major private employers: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., University of Arkansas Medical Center, O.K. Transportation, Baptist Health Medica lCenter, Weyerhauser Co., Whirlpool Corp., University of Arkansas, McClellan VA Medical Center, St. Vincent Health System, Tyson Nashville Cafeteria, Verizon Wireless

Economic profile sources: American Petroleum Institute (April 2013), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2012), Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2013 release), CareerOneStop, Moody's Investors Service (senior-most tax-backed ratings), National Governors Association, Tax Foundation (2013), U.S. Census Bureau (2012 estimate)

From the Governors

America's Top States For Business 2013 Video