A new study ranks Washington as having the best economy among the U.S. states, while Idaho ranked in the top ten.
The report from online site WalletHub compared the 50 states and Washington D.C. across 28 key indicators of economic performance and strength, including GDP growth, startup activity, and the share of jobs in high-tech industries. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest economic performance.
Washington state’s total score was 77.6, tops in the country, while Idaho earned 58.2 to rank 7th best, followed by Oregon at Number 8 with 56.8 points.
The study also ranks Washington 1st for Economic Activity, 4th for Economic Health, and 2nd for Innovation Potential. Idaho ranked 2nd in Economic Health, 13th for Economic Activity, and 18th for Innovation Potential. Washington also had the highest GDP growth, with Idaho at Number 3.
In May, U.S. News & World Report named Washington the best state in the nation, with an emphasis on the Evergreen State’s thriving technology sector, and efforts to promote clean and affordable energy. That study gave Washington top 5 rankings for economy, infrastructure, health care, and education. (KREM 2)
