Here's How All 50 State Economies Are Doing, Ranked From Slowest To Fastest

[B-DRAGON]

■Here's How All 50 State Economies Are Doing, Ranked From Slowest To Fastest

• Andy Kiersz and Elena Holodny

• Aug. 4, 2014, 10:16 AM

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Now that the recovery appears to finally be taking hold, Business Insider decided to see how that recovery was being felt across the country.

We ranked each state on how eight economic measures have grown or shrunk in recent years: the unemployment rate, the number of non-farm payroll jobs, gross domestic product, average wages, the working age (18-64) population, value of international exports, house prices, and auto sales.

Check out how we made the ranking here.

50. Alaska

Mbwana Alliy

The petroleum sector is a major part of the Alaskan economy, but many of Alaska's oil deposits have been depleted over the years. This depletion has dropped the state's crude oil production to fourth place. Other major employment sectors include the federal government and the fishing and tourism industries. Here's a bit more about Alaska:

• Alaska was one of the few states that actually lost payroll jobs between June 2013 and June 2014.
• Wages decreased by .41% from 2012 to 2013.
• And the GDP decreased by 2.5% in 2013, the worst among the states.

49. Vermont

Flickr/barry.pousman

The major industries in Vermont include tourism — with a focus on skiing and snowboarding — and dairy. Additionally, Vermont is a major leader in the maple syrup production industry. Here's how Vermont fared in our measures:

• Vermont saw a 1.1% decrease in wages between 2012 and 2013.
• The GDP increased by 1.9% during 2013.
• The unemployment rate fell from 4.4% in June 2012 to 3.5% in June 2013.
• Housing prices dropped by 2.7% between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014, by far the largest drop of any state.

48. New Mexico

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New Mexico has major petroleum and natural gas deposits in the northwest and southeast corners of the state. Plus, agriculture and mining are other major sectors. Additionally, the healthcare industry employs the "largest percentage of New Mexico's workforce."

• New Mexico saw a 1.2% increase in wages from 2012 to 2013.
• GDP grew by 1.5% during 2013.
• And the auto sales per dealer increased by 1.8% from 2012 to 2013.

47. Maine

Flickr/Yuri Long

Maine is the lead producer of blueberries in the U.S. Other major industries include agricultural and industrial outputs, such as paper and various wood products. Unfortunately, Maine's lobster industry has had a "slow start" this year (after two years of early starts).

• Maine's housing price index fell by 1.2% and the auto sales per dealer increased by 7.7%.
• Exports dropped by 13.1% between 2012 and 2013.
• Maine's wages fell by 0.3%.

46. Rhode Island

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

The majority of Rhode Island's economy is service-based, specifically focusing on healthcare and education. The state has seen a decline in manufacturing "after the textile industry moved South, and the jewelry industry has been outstripped by foreign competitors." According to our data:

• Rhode Island's wages decreased by 0.7% and the housing price index decreased by 1.2%.
• Unemployment dropped by 1.6%.

45. Alabama

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Alabama is growing into a major automotive producer, with three major international auto manufacturers. Other major industries include aerospace, chemicals, food processing, and rubber and plastics. The University of Alabama is the state's largest employer and is a "global leader in healthcare and medical research."

• Wages increased by 0.78% from 2012 to 2013.
• Unemployment increased by 0.3% in the last year — which was the lowest rank out of the 50 states.

44. West Virginia

Reuters/Laszlo Balogh

Coal mining is the primary industry in West Virginia, but other major industries include chemicals, primary metals, and lumber. Here's how West Virginia did in our measures:

• West Virginia saw a 0.7% drop in the working age population between 2012 and 2013.
• Additionally, exports dropped by 25.4% — the worst out of the 50 states.
• However, it also saw a 5.1% GDP growth, which was the 3rd highest.

43. Virginia

Flickr/hbarrison

Virginia has a fairly diverse economy. Industries include (but are not limited to) agriculture, coal, cement, rail transport equipment, and shipyard production. Additionally, those living near Washington D.C. generally work in government.

• Virginia saw a 3.3% drop in auto sales, which was the lowest of all the states.
• However, wages increased by 0.92% and the working age population grew by 0.52%.

42. Missouri

Zach Garcia/AP Photo

Missouri's major industries include service industries, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, and agriculture. Plus, Missouri is a leading producer of transportation equipment, beer and beverages, and aerospace technology.

• Missouri saw a 0.3% decrease in unemployment
• The GDP grew by 0.8% and wages grew by 0.6%.

41. Iowa

José Goulão via flickr

Iowa has a diversified economy led by the manufacturing industry and agriculture sector. Additionally, according to Iowa's Labor Market and Workforce information division, the state "has become home to a growing number of technology-related businesses," and workers in those industries receive significantly higher wages than those in non-tech industries.

• Iowa saw a 1.8% growth in auto-sales and a 1.4% increase in the housing price index.
• Additionally, GDP grew by 2.9%.

40. New Hampshire

Facebook/WildcatMountain

According to the New Hampshire state government report "Measuring New Hampshire's Economic Health," the state was less affected by the Great Recession than were other states. Nonfarm jobs fared better than in the rest of the nation, and "employment decline was shorter in New Hampshire than in the rest of the nation."

• Exports increased by 18.2% — the highest of all the 50 states.
• GDP grew by 0.9%.
• The unemployment rate decreased by 0.8%.

39. Wisconsin

Barnyard

According to the Wisconsin Economic Outlook, the state's economy "grew at a moderate pace in 2013" and "jobs recovery continued at a moderate pace in 2013." Additionally, "the forecast anticipates stronger growth." Major industries that drive the Wisconsin economy include manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare.

• Wisconsin's nonfarm payrolls increased by 1.6%.
• GDP grew by 1.7%.
• However, wages decreased by 0.46%.

38. Mississippi

Wikimedia

Mississippi's "recovery has yet to blossom as labor market fundamentals remain relatively weak," according to a Wells Fargo outlook report. As of February 2014, the government employed one in five residents, making it the largest source of jobs.

• Mississippi's working-age population decreased by 0.11%, and wages decreased by 0.14%.
• However, exports increased by 3.5% and GDP rose by 1.6%.

37. Arkansas

Flickr via nanoprobe67

According to Arkansas' 2013 Labor Market and Economic Report, "restaurants and other eating places top all industries in net growth" with projected increases. Additionally, jobs in "local government, excluding education and hospitals," see the "toughest outlook" with projected losses.

• GDP increased by 2.4% and unemployment dropped by 1.4%.
• However, wages decreased by 0.36% and exports decreased by 7.4%.

36. New Jersey

Associated Press

The housing crisis affected New Jersey more than other states, and subsequently the state's economy struggled more, according to a Wells Fargo report. And Hurricane Sandy did not help, as "it diverted resources toward rebuilding activity rather than promoting economic growth." According to the report: "Part of the slowdown of New Jersey's economy can be traced to the ongoing consolidation of the pharmaceutical industry," which is a major economic powerhouse in the state.

• The unemployment rate dropped by 1.8% and wages increased by 0.08%.
• Nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 0.18%.

35. Connecticut

AP Images

Connecticut's economy is centered around the finance and insurance industries, followed by the manufacturing industry. According to the Connecticut Economic Digest, the state's "baseline forecast suggests slower growth in 2014 and 2015."

• Connecticut wages increased by 1.1% in the past year, and exports increased by nearly 2%.
• The housing price index dropped by 1.8%.
• And Connecticut's GDP increased by 0.9%.

34. Illinois

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

According to a JP Morgan Chase report, "Illinois' recovery is expected to strengthen gradually into 2014 and 2015," and its economy is "growing again in line with the national trend." 

• Unemployment dropped by 2.1% from June 2013 to June 2014, and wages increased by 0.7%
• Nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 0.35%
• GDP grew by 0.9%.

33. Nebraska

AP

Nebraska GOP Rally.

The agriculture industry is the major economic focal point in Nebraska — including crop and livestock production. Other major Nebraska industries include manufacturing and health and business services.

• Nebraska's GDP grew by 3%.
• The working age population grew by 0.43%.
• Additionally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.5%.

32. Maryland

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According to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, "recent reports of Maryland's economy were mixed, with some labor market contraction but some improvement in household conditions and in housing markets." Additionally, "jobs were added in logging, mining, and construction, financial activities, education and health services, leisure, and hospitality."

• Maryland wages went up 1.4%, the highest increase of any state.
• Exports decreased by 1.4%.
• And unemployment dropped by 0.9%.

31. Pennsylvania

AP

According to a JP Morgan Chase report, Pennsylvania's economy is "on the mend and likely will continue to expand at a moderate pace in 2014 and 2015." Additionally, the report notes that the state is "on the front lines of new energy development," which should help "move the state's economic performance to the front pages in coming years."

• Pennsylvania's unemployment rate fell by 1.9%.
• Exports rose by 4.4%.
• And GDP increased by 0.7%.

30. Kentucky

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

"Financial strains built up during the recession, but the improving economy is relieving pressure on local businesses," according to a JP Morgan Chase report. Additionally, the strength of the motor vehicle industry is now a "plus for the state." 

• Kentucky's exports increased by 12.95% in the past year.
• Wages increased by 0.6%.
• And unemployment rate dropped by 1%.

29. Louisiana

Sean Gardner/Getty

Louisiana is the "third-largest producer of petroleum" in the U.S. and the "third-leading state in petroleum refining." Other major industries include natural gas, agriculture, petrochemicals, and fishing.

• Louisiana's unemployment rate fell by 1.4% while wages fell by 0.18%.
• GDP rose by 1.3%.
• And exports fell by 0.71%.

28. Kansas

AP

Major Kansas industries include agriculture and manufacturing. A JP Morgan Chase report states that, "the state's expected to parallel the broad contour of the national recovery in 2014 and 2015."

• The unemployment rate dropped by 0.7%.
• Exports increased by 5%.
• And GDP increased by 1.9%.

27. South Dakota

Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

Motorists ride on U.S. Interstate 90 near Sturgis, South Dakota.

South Dakota continues to see some of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation, with increasing nonfarm employment levels. Major South Dakota industries are in service sector industries like retail, finance, and healthcare.

• South Dakota's GDP grew by 3.1% and unemployment rate fell by 0.1%.
• Additionally, the housing price index increased by 2.5%.

26. Wyoming

Donnie Sexton

Wyoming's major economic industries include mineral extraction and tourism, thanks to national parks like Yellowstone. A JP Morgan Chase economic report states that "Wyoming's economy is forecast to speed up a bit in the coming year."

• Wyoming's GDP increased by 7.6% — the second-highest increase of all states.
• Unemployment dropped by 0.6%.
• Wages increased by 0.57%.

25. Ohio

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Ohio has a disproportionate number of manufacturing and health services jobs. However, Ohio's scores on our measures were very much a mixed bag:

• On the bright side, Ohio's unemployment rate dropped sharply over the past year, from 7.4% in June 2013 to 5.5% in June 2014.
• The housing market in Ohio, on the other hand, is not recovering as quickly as it is in many other states. Ohio saw a small 0.1% drop in housing prices between Q1 2013 and Q2 2014.
• Similarly, Ohio faces demographic challenges, with the working age population shrinking by a marginal 0.1% between 2012 and 2013, one of only 13 states to show a decline in this population.

24. Hawaii

Instagram/Hawaiistagram

The view from Hawaii's Haiku Stairs.

Hawaii, with its incredible tropical climate and island scenery, has always relied on tourism, whether or not said tourism is always safe, as a major factor in its economy. Here's how the youngest state measured up:

• Hawaii saw some of the best improvement in auto sales, with per-dealer sales jumping 11.7% between 2012 and 2013.
• Similarly, Hawaii's housing market is booming, with housing prices rising 7.5% from Q1 2013 to Q1 2014.
• While not a huge part of the Hawaiian economy, exports dropped 19.5% between 2012 and 2013, the second-largest decline in the country.

23. New York

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

New York City is the financial capital of the world, but changes in the state's economy have been mixed in the last couple of years. Here's New York's standing in our ranking:

• New York had a very respectable 4.8% growth in exports from 2012 to 2013. 
• Average real wages in New York grew by 0.7% from 2012 to 2013, which, while not a huge increase, is better than in many other states, where wages were completely flat or declined over that time period.
• New York's GDP grew by only 0.7% in 2013, the fifth-slowest rate in the nation.

22. Montana

U.S. Department of Agriculture/Flickr

Montana continues to be a largely agricultural state, producing over $1.7 billion worth of both grain and cattle in 2013. Here's Montana's scorecard:

• Montana's GDP grew at a healthy 3.0% rate in 2013.
• The unemployment rate fell from 5.7% in June 2012 to 4.5% in June 2013.
• Montana's housing market is growing, with house prices rising 3.6% between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.

21. Indiana

CBS/"Late Show With David Letterman"

From the cornfields throughout the state to the ailing former industrial giant of Gary, to the capital of Indianapolis, home of pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, Indiana's economy is very much like those of the other Great Lakes states. Here's where Indiana stands in our measures:

• Indiana's employment situation has been improving, with the unemployment rate dropping from 7.6% in June 2013 to 5.9% in June 2014.
• Over the same time period, Indiana added 65,100 jobs, a 2.2% increase.
• However, Indiana's housing market has been flat, with only a negligible 0.1% increase in house prices between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.

20. Oklahoma

REUTERS/Bill Waugh

With its central location, Oklahoma is a major hub of the aviation and aerospace industries. A number of firms have a presence in the Oklahoma City area, and American Airlines runs a massive maintenance and repair facility in Tulsa. Here's how Oklahoma did on our indicators:

• Oklahoma's GDP grew at a very impressive 4.2% rate in 2013.
• Oklahoma's exports grew by a respectable 3.7% between 2012 and 2013.
• Oklahoma added 33,900 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, a 2.1% increase.

19. Minnesota

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Minnesota is a major Midwestern corporate hub. Eighteen Fortune 500 companies operate out of the state. Minnesota fell largely in the middle of the road on most of our metrics:

• Minnesota had decent GDP growth of 2.8% in 2013.
• Minnesota's housing market is showing signs of recovery, with housing prices increasing 3.8% between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.
• Minnesota saw a decrease of only 0.6% in its unemployment rate between June 2014 and June 2014, though with a June 2014 rate of 4.5%, the state's employment situation is a little better than that of the nation at large.

18. Tennessee

Flickr/Allen Elliotte

Musicians in Memphis.

Tennessee has a mix of agricultural areas and big cities. With its central location, Memphis is a massive shipping hub. Here's how Tennessee did on our variables:

• Tennessee's unemployment rate went from 8.4% in June 2013 to 6.6% in June 2014.
• Relatedly, Tennessee added 53,600 jobs, a 2.0% increase.
• Tennessee had some of the fastest average real wage growth in the country, with wages going up 1.2% between 2012 and 2013.

17. Idaho

Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Idaho's economy is a fascinating mixture of traditional industries like agribusiness — Idaho still produces nearly 3 in 10 of the country's potatoes — and high-tech firms like Micron Technologies, which, according to the Idaho Department of Commerce, is "the only U.S. based memory chip maker." Here's how Idaho fared in our ranking:

• Idaho's GDP grew at a solid 4.1% rate in 2013.
• The unemployment rate in Idaho fell from 6.3% to 4.7% between June 2013 and June 2014.
• Idaho's per-dealer auto sales had the second best growth rate in the nation, growing 14.9% between 2012 and 2013.

16. Michigan

Ford

Michigan has seen some very hard times in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, but there is some hope for the industrial powerhouse. Here's how they scored:

• It's fitting that the home of the American auto industry saw a 10.1% increase in per-dealer auto sales between 2012 and 2013.
• While there is still much work to be done, Michigan's unemployment rate dropped from 8.9% in June 2013 to 7.5% in June 2014.
• One challenge facing Michigan is demographic: the working age population had a small decline of 0.1% between 2012 and 2013, one of only 13 states that saw that population fall.

15. North Carolina

AP Photo/Gerry Broome

North Carolina is one of the major centers of the New South. Bank of America's headquarters is in Charlotte, which has become a huge banking hub. Add to that the technological powerhouse of the research triangle, and North Carolina's economic future looks bright. Here's where they fall on some of our indicators:

• North Carolina has seen a big improvement in its unemployment rate, falling from 8.3% in June 2013 to 6.4% in June 2014.
• A big part of that drop came from the 74,800 nonfarm payroll jobs added in the same period, a 1.8% year over year increase.
• North Carolina's working age population increased by 0.6% between 2012 and 2013, higher than the overall national growth rate of 0.4%.

14. Delaware

Courtesy of HBO

Delaware has a reputation for being extremely friendly to corporations, and over half of the S&P 500 corporations are legally chartered in the state. Here's where Delaware stands on our measures:

• Delaware has seen healthy job growth in the past year, adding 11,700 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, giving a growth rate of 2.7%.
• Delaware saw a 3.0% growth in exports between 2012 and 2013.
• Car sales in Delaware are on the rise, with a 9.6% growth in per-dealer auto sales from 2012 to 2013.

13. North Dakota

Andrew Burton/Getty Images

A worker on the Bakken Shale.

North Dakota has spent the past few years in an oil boom, fueled by the vast reserves in the Bakken Formation in the western part of the state. That boom translated into North Dakota coming in first in the country in three of our eight metrics:

• North Dakota had the largest percent year over year growth in payroll jobs, adding 21,400 jobs, an amazing 4.8% year-over-year growth rate, about a percent higher than the second fastest growth rate.
• Many of North Dakota's ever increasing jobs went to people newly in the state. North Dakota's working age population grew by 3.2% between 2012 and 2013.
• The ongoing oil boom lead North Dakota to an incredibly high 9.7% GDP growth rate in 2013.

12. Georgia

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Georgia's economy is anchored by the Southern metropolis of Atlanta, home to the busiest airport in the world, and by a robust agribusiness sector. Here's how Georgia's economy measures up in our metrics:

• Georgia added 68,700 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, a 1.7% increase.
• Georgia's housing market is doing well, with house prices increasing 5.0% between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.
• Georgia saw an 8.9% growth in per-dealer auto sales between 2012 and 2013.

11. Oregon

YouTube/squiddkidd

Oregon has an economy mirroring that of the U.S., with a mixture of agriculture, manufacturing, and services, Recent job growth in Oregon has been fueled, as it has been throughout the country, by educational and health services, business services, and retail trade. Here's how Oregon looks in our ranking:

• Oregon's housing market is in a strong state of recovery, with prices increasing by 8.1% between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.
• Oregon also saw good private sector job growth over the last year, adding 45,400 jobs, or a 2.7% increase.
• Oregon's economy as a whole is also growing, with 2.7% GDP growth in 2013.

10. Massachusetts

Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Harvard's Class of 2014.

Massachusetts, powered by its many prestigious colleges and universities, has a robust service economy, anchored by creative industries, financial services, information technology, and the life sciences. Here's how they scored in our rankings:

• Massachusetts saw a drop in unemployment in the past year, from 7.1% in June 2013 to 5.5% in June 2014.
• Massachusetts saw a good 3.2% growth in international exports between 2012 and 2013, with about $27 billion in total exports in 2013.
• Massachusetts saw a 0.5% increase in its working age population, slightly above the national increase of 0.4%.

9. Nevada

Romotive

Nevada was hit extremely hard by the implosion of the 2000's housing bubble, but its economy, including its housing market, is getting back on its feet. Here's where Nevada stands on our variables:

• Nevada's home prices have skyrocketed over the past few years, jumping nearly 20% between Q1 2013 and Q2 2014, the largest increase of any state.
• Nevada's job market is also dramatically improving. The unemployment rate dropped 2.3% from 10.0% in June 2013 to 7.7% in June 2014, the second-best improvement in the country.
• The drop in unemployment was fueled by strong job growth, with Nevada adding 46,200 jobs over the same time period, a 3.9% gain. 

8. South Carolina

Richard Ellis/Getty Images

In recent months, South Carolina has begun booming its way out from the shadow of the Great Recession. Here's how the Palmetto State is doing based on our metrics:

• South Carolina had the largest drop in its unemployment rate among the states, going from 7.8% in June 2013 to only 5.3% in June 2014 — a drop that puts South Carolina's rate under the national average.
• Accordingly, South Carolina also had strong payroll jobs growth, adding 42,500 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, a 2.2% increase.
• South Carolina's auto sales have also grown, with a 9.7% uptick in per-dealer sales from 2012 to 2013.

7. Washington

Chris McClanahan/flickr

The state of Washington is home to many major corporations, with the headquarters of technology companies like Microsoft and Amazon, the home of coffee behemoth Starbucks, and a significant presence of airplane giant Boeing. Here's Washington's score:

• Washington saw 6.3% growth in international exports between 2012 and 2013, led by $42.6 billion of exports of aircraft, engines, and parts.
• Washington's housing market is improving, with a 5.3% increase in house prices between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014.
• Drivers in Washington are buying cars, with per-dealer auto sales increasing 8.7% from 2012 to 2013.

6. Florida

Wikimedia Commons

Florida's sunny and hot climate has long made it a natural destination for tourists and retirees, and, largely owing to NASA's presence at Cape Canaveral, the state has a long history of being a center for aerospace industries. Here's how Florida scored:

• Florida's housing market shows strong signs of recovery, with prices rising 8.9% from Q1 2013 to Q1 2014.
• Florida had a 3.1% jump in payroll jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, adding about 237,500 jobs over that year.
• Florida's working age population is expanding, growing at a 0.7% rate, higher than the U.S. rate of 0.4%.

5. Utah

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The Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City.

With a state government focused on economic growth, Utah frequently shows up at or near the top of lists of states where it's good to do business. Here's why they're near the top of our list:

• Utah has a rapidly growing working-age population, with a 1.5% increase in the number of 18- to 64-year-olds between 2012 and 2013, the second-highest rate in the nation.
• Utah also saw robust job growth, adding 45,000 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014, a 3.5% increase.
• State GDP rose 3.8% in 2013, tied for sixth in the country.

4. Arizona

Flickr / Grand Canyon National Park

With Phoenix at its heart, and despite being hit especially hard by the collapse of the housing bubble, Arizona continues to have a rapidly growing economy. Here's how Arizona scored on our metrics:

• Arizona saw an 18.8% jump in per-dealer auto sales from $60.6 million in 2012 to $71.9 million in 2013, the largest jump of that in any state.
• Arizona's housing market is making a brisk post-recession recovery, with a 13.4% increase in house prices between Q1 2013 and Q1 2014. Although we count this as a positive, some see the possibility of a new bubble.
• Despite this, overall GDP growth in Arizona was a bit weaker than in some of the other high-ranking states, with just 1.1% growth in 2013.

3. Texas

REUTERS/Jaime R. Carrero

Since the discovery of vast oil reserves around the turn of the 20th century, Texas has been an economic powerhouse. Energy continues to be a huge part of the Texas economy, but many industries have a large presence in the state. Here's how Texas did on our measures:

• Texas had a 3.3% increase in nonfarm payroll jobs
• The working age population grew by 1.3%
• Exports grew by 4.1% to about $279 billion, solidifying Texas' lead in international exports among the states.

2. California

Flickr / Mat Honan

California is the country's largest state by population and sheer economic size. California's economy is enormous in nearly every industrial sector. Here's how the Golden State fared on our metrics:

• Housing prices jumped up by 15%, showing strong signs of a booming housing market, though of course this has its costs, especially in the Bay Area.
• Real annual wages went up 0.9%, with a 2013 annual wage of $57,121.
• Per-dealer auto sales had a 9.5% increase in per-dealer auto sales, indicating that consumers are feeling good.

1. Colorado

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Colorado was in the top 10 states on five of our metrics, and in the top 15 on the other three. As with many of the other top economies, Colorado's economy is highly diversified, and it especially boasts a strong aerospace sector and a huge amount of federal investment, such as the NORAD complex. Here are some of the metrics in which Colorado really shined:

• Colorado saw 1.2% growth in its working age population from 2012 to 2013.
• The state also had 2.8% growth in non-farm payroll jobs, adding 66,300 jobs between June 2013 and June 2014.
• Colorado's GDP grew 3.8% year over year in 2013.

All in all, Colorado's economy is broadly growing at a healthy clip, and so it comes in as the overall winner.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/state-economic-growth-rankings-2014-8?op=1#ixzz3EQySHsOU