2016 Best (And Worst) States For Solution Provider Innovation And Growth

Growth Indicators

Solution provider businesses can certainly succeed or fail because of their own strengths or weaknesses. But external factors also play a role, such as a state's economic climate, regional job growth, startup activity and so on.

This year's Best States For Millennials to Start a Solution Provider Business analysis looked at a number of innovation and growth criteria that's worth adding to the "Which State?" equation. They include state gross domestic product growth (Bureau of Economic Analysis and the State Economic Snapshots report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee), startup rates (Kauffman Index 2015 Rate of New Entrepreneurs: Startup Activity By State), technology and innovation rank (CNBC Americas Top States for Business 2016), and job growth since the end of The Great Recession, between January 2009 and June 2016 (State Economic Snapshots report from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee).

The following are the 10 states with the highest rankings for solution provider innovation and growth, listed from No. 10 to No. 1. The states with the lowest rankings are then listed from No. 41 to No. 50.

Best States No. 10: Utah

Utah recorded 3.30 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 10 among the states. The state added 176,800 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 18 percent, No. 2 among the states.

The Beehive State had a startup rate of 300 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 22. And the state was ranked No. 16 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 9: Oregon

Oregon recorded 3.40 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 8 among the states. The state added 169,900 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 13 percent, No. 10 among the states.

The Beaver State had a startup rate of 270 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 29. And the state was ranked No. 14 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 8: Michigan

Michigan recorded 2.90 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 15 among the states. The state added 437,500 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 13 percent, No. 9 among the states.

The Great Lakes State had a startup rate of 260 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 31. And the state was ranked No. 6 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 7: Georgia

Georgia recorded 3.00 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 14 among the states. The state added 414,500 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 13 percent, No. 9 among the states.

The Peach State had a startup rate of 290 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 23. And the state was ranked No. 13 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 6: North Carolina

North Carolina recorded 3.10 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 12 among the states. The state added 326,000 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 10 percent, No. 18 among the states.

The Tar Heel State had a startup rate of 310 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 20. And the state was ranked No. 7 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 5: Tennessee

Tennessee recorded 4.00 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 2 among the states. The state added 268,800 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 12 percent, No. 13 among the states.

The Volunteer State had a startup rate of 240 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 35. And the state was ranked No. 24 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 4: New York

New York recorded 3.10 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 12 among the states. The state added 778,100 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 11 percent, No. 14 among the states.

The Empire State had a startup rate of 330 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 15. And the state was ranked No. 4 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 3: Washington

Oregon recorded 3.70 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 3 among the states. The state added 287,500 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 12 percent, No. 11 among the states.

The Evergreen State had a startup rate of 240 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 35. And the state was ranked No. 1 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 2: Florida

Florida, the overall No. 1 state in this year's Best States analysis, recorded 3.50 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 7 among the states. The state added 931,100 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 15 percent, No. 4 among the states.

The Sunshine State had a startup rate of 350 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 9. And the state was ranked No. 17 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Best States No. 1: California

California may have its shortcomings, from having one of the highest costs of living to its high taxes. But the state also tops this year's ranking for growth and innovation.

The Golden State recorded 3.20 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 11 among the states. The state added a whopping 1,601,600 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 13 percent, No. 7 among the states.

California had a startup rate of 390 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 5. And the state was ranked No. 2 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 41: Alabama

Alabama recorded 1.30 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 35 among the states. The state added 44,600 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 3 percent, No. 45 among the states.

The Yellowhammer State had a startup rate of 220 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 40. And the state was ranked No. 36 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 42: Iowa

Iowa recorded 0.60 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 40 among the states. The state added 75,700 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 6 percent, No. 31 among the states.

The Hawkeye State had a startup rate of 180 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 48. And the state was ranked No. 23 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 43: Louisiana

Iowa recorded a 0.10 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 44 among the states. The state added 88,500 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 6 percent, No. 34 among the states.

The Pelican State had a surprisingly high startup rate of 330 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 15. But the state was ranked No. 46 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 44: Kansas

Kansas recorded 0.40 percent GDP growth in 2015, No. 42 among the states. The state added 28,000 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 3 percent, No. 46 among the states.

The Sunflower State had a startup rate of 220 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 40. And the state was ranked No. 28 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 45: New Mexico

New Mexico recorded a 0.10 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 44 among the states. The state added 11,300 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 2 percent, No. 48 among the states.

The Land of Enchantment state had a high startup rate of 400 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 3. And the state was ranked No. 33 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 46: Oklahoma

Oklahoma recorded a 3.00 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 48 among the states. The state added 52,600 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 4 percent, No. 41 among the states.

The Sooner State had a startup rate of 360 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 7. And the state was ranked No. 43 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 47: Alaska

Alaska recorded a 1.70 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 47 among the states. The state added 18,400 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for job growth of 8 percent, No. 23 among the states.

The Last Frontier state had a high startup rate of 450 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 2. But the state was ranked No. 41 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 48: North Dakota

Taking a hit from the decline in oil prices, North Dakota recorded a 7.00 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 50 among the states. But the state added 65,900 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year – a period that covers the oil boom years – for job growth of 23 percent, No. 1 among the states.

The Peace Garden State had a startup rate of 270 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 29. And the state was ranked No. 44 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 49: West Virginia

West Virginia recorded a 1.50 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 46 among the states. The state lost 5,400 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for a 1 percent decline in jobs, No. 49 among the states.

The Mountain State had a startup rate of 200 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 45. And the state was ranked No. 49 by CNBC in technology and innovation.

Worst States No. 50: Wyoming

Wyoming recorded a 3.30 percent GDP decline in 2015, No. 49 among the states. The state lost 16,400 jobs between January 2009 and June of this year for a 7 percent decline in jobs, No. 50 among the states.

The Equality State had a startup rate of 320 per 100,000 adults, ranked No. 18. But the state was ranked No. 48 by CNBC in technology and innovation.