FORBES: The Best States For Business 2018: North Carolina Leads The Way
North Carolina has the best business climate in the U.S. and tops Forbes’ Best States for Business ranking for the second straight year.
North Carolina’s labor, energy and tax costs are all well below the national average and rank as the second lowest in the U.S. overall, per Moody’s Analytics. The 3% corporate tax rate is the lowest in the country.
In addition to low costs, the state boasts a highly educated labor supply fueled by graduates from 53 colleges and universities, including elite schools like Duke University and the University of North Carolina. The outlook is strong as well. Job growth and gross state product growth are expected to rank among the strongest in the country over the next five years. The population is growing twice as fast as the U.S. average.