Forbes says Georgia is No. 11 best state for business
Forbes magazine named Georgia the No. 11 best state for business — up from No. 16 in 2014.
In compiling its list, the business publication said it weighed several pieces of data from Moody’s Analytics, the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources. While the most attention is paid to business costs, such as labor, energy and taxes, other factors considered include labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.
The publication ranked the Peach State:
- No. 9 in regulatory environment
- No. 11 in growth prospects
- No. 13 in labor supply
- No. 21 in economic climate
- No. 32 in quality of life
- No. 34 in business costs
“Georgia’s once robust economy has slowed in recent years, but the state still maintains a pro-business climate,” Forbes reported. “Big companies headquartered in the state include Home Depot (NYSE: HD), UPS (NYSE: UPS),Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Union workers make up only 4.3 percent of Georgia’s employment base, which is one of the lowest rates in the country. The Tax Foundation’s ‘Location Matters’ study rates Georgia’s corporate tax climate as the third best in the U.S.”
But not everything the magazine wrote about Georgia was flattering.
“One drawback: 18 percent of the population lives below the poverty line, which is one of the highest rates in the U.S.,” it reported.
Below is a list of Forbes’ top 11 states for businesses and careers:
- Utah
- North Carolina
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Colorado
- Texas
- Virginia
- Indiana
- South Dakota
- Washington
- Georgia
Click here to view the original article from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.