Well, it’s been quite a year. And as far as state economic development policies and news go, it’s about to be quite another year.
Looking back and looking forward, among the themes to emerge across the 50 state legislatures are workforce housing, streamlining of permitting, child care, infrastructure and shovel-ready site development, tax reductions, career and technical education and more funds directed toward K-12 education and teacher pay.
In the following pages, you’ll find demographic, GDP and credit rating data insights, legislative and policy updates, agency information, governor quotes and, in some cases, “Project Watch” spotlights* that shed light on the economies, workforce and business climates of all 50 states. You’ll also find our “Rankings that Matter,” which include each state’s rank in the following economic development yardsticks:
 | The Tax Foundation 2023 State Tax Competitiveness Index (Oct. 2024) |
 | 2023 Higher Education R&D Expenditure (Dollars in thousands), according to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education Research and Development Survey |
 | Percent improvement in ACT National Career Readiness Certificates earned by working-age adults between Oct. 2023 and Oct. 2024 |
 | Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate State Ranking by Information Technology and Research Section, Central Services Division, Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (October 2022) |
 | U.S. Energy Information Administration, Lowest Industrial Electric Power Cost (¢/kWh, 2023) |
 | Fiscal Health (based on data from Pew Charitable Trusts’ Fiscal 50 resource) |
This report was compiled, edited and designed by Mark Arend, Adam Bruns, Gary Daughters, Alexis Elmore, Lindsay Lopp, Karen Medernach, Daniel Boyer, McKenzie Wright, Brian Espinoza and Richard Nenoff.
Sources: Standard & Poor’s (state credit ratings); ESRI (state populations, population growth, median household incomes, and median ages); The Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50 resource, based on data from state comprehensive annual financial reports; National Science Foundation; ACT National Career Readiness Certificates; U.S. Energy Information Administration; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Tax Foundation; National Bureau of Economic Research; U.S. Census Bureau; Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services (workers’ comp rates); Conway Projects Database; state chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and business/industry associations; press reports; governors’ and corporate press rooms; law firms; Ballotpedia.org; and legislative research services.