Chamber report cites strengths, drawbacks in state quest for economic growth

Kentucky has serious work to do to become a more competitive place to do business and achieve economic prosperity, according to a new report from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

Ready for Jobs? examines how Kentucky compares to other states on key indicators of a competitive business environment and finds the state coming up short in such areas as health, education and tort liability but performing relatively well in the cost of living and cost of doing business.

The report, which includes recommendations for improvement, also addresses the importance of protecting and promoting such key sectors as coal, bourbon, manufacturing and the equine industry.

Here is a closer look at the state’s strengths and weaknesses in key areas as reported in Ready for Jobs?

Economic Climate

Strengths:

• Low cost of doing business
• Low cost of living
• Seventh-lowest energy costs in the country
• Top tier of states for economic growth from 2009-2010

Weaknesses:

• 47^th in per capita income
• Fifth 5^th in the number of citizens living below the poverty level.
• Citizens less likely to improve their economic standing at the end of their prime working years than are typical Americans

Regulatory and Tax Environment

Strengths:

• Ranked in the top half of states in the State Business Tax Climate Index, based on the impact of five major taxes: corporate, individual income, sales, unemployment insurance and property

Weaknesses:

• Ranked among the worst states for tort liability in the Tort Liability Index
• Ranked 30^th in overall regulatory environment (costs imposed by government)
• Ranked 30^th in state and local tax burden as a percentage of income

Employment Climate

Strengths:

• Relatively low health insurance costs when compared to other states
• Workers’ compensation rates slightly below average

Weaknesses:

• No right-to-work law.
• Above the national average for unemployment insurance employer contributions as a percent of both taxable wages and total wages

Education

Strengths:

• Significant progress in increasing college enrollment and the number of degrees awarded
• Dramatic improvement in national ranking on key education indicators, including K-12 achievement

Weaknesses:

• Low overall education attainment
• ACT scores trail national average

Health/Quality of Life

Strengths:

• Low cost of living
• Low crime rate

Weaknesses:

• Health status ranked 43^rd with high rates of smoking, obesity, cancer deaths and preventable hospitalizations
• Ranked 49^th in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index

Infrastructure

Strengths:

• Ranked 14^th overall in state highway system performance
• Motor fuel taxes below national average

Weaknesses:

• High highway fatality rates
• Urban interstate congestion

Government Spending and Debt

Strengths:

• Progress in limiting spending growth in Medicaid, corrections and public employee health insurance
• Medicaid managed care expanded statewide
• Sentencing reforms enacted to reduce the prison population
• Spending increases in public employee health insurance reduced to 2% per year.

Weaknesses:

• State spending per capita ranked 20^th
• State debt as a percent of income 12^th
• Ranked 8^th in state pension debt measured as percent of income
• Identified as among the worst states in the country in terms of pension funding

The full report was released at the Chamber’s Business Summit and Annual Meeting, presented by Bingham Greenebaum Doll, LLP, on July 17.

“It is our hope the information in this report will promote action to create policies that will help businesses grow, create good jobs and build a stronger future for all Kentuckians,” said Dave Adkisson, president and CEO of the Chamber. “We stand ready to work in a constructive partnership with policymakers and other businesses and organizations to achieve our shared goal of moving the state forward.”