45. West Virginia

You will save here on the cost of doing business, but the state is a technological backwater.

West Virginia flag with wood texture
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Category
Score
2019 Rank
2018 Rank
Grade
Workforce 191 44 47 F
Economy 171 33 36 C-
Infrastructure 162 35 45 C-
Cost of Doing Business 239 6 11 A
Quality of Life 128 39 37 D-
Education 67 42 41 D-
Technology & Innovation 38 50 50 F
Business Friendliness 30 48 49 F
Access to Capital 5 48 47 F
Cost of Living 30 21 23 B-
Overall 1061 45 48 -

Economic Profile

Governor: Jim Justice, Republican

Population: 1,805,832

GDP growth (Q4 2018): 1.8%

Unemployment rate (May 2019): 4.8%

Top corporate tax rate: 6.5%

Top individual income tax rate: 6.5%

Gasoline tax: 35.70 cents/gallon

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

Major private employers: Wal-Mart, West Virginia United Health System, United Bankshares

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