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US News & World Report says Washington has been ranked as the best state in the nation for the second year in a row. The web-based news magazine said, “Washington’s low-carbon energy system and robust secondary education system continue to rank among the nation’s best, as does the state’s economy, the fastest growing in the nation”. It is the first time since the rankings started that the same state has been named No. 1 for two consecutive years. Governor Jay Inslee proudly highlighted the ranking in a tweet, and said, “It takes all 7.6 million of us to make Washington the special and dynamic place it truly is”. US News ranked all 50 states based on data within 71 metrics across eight categories in previous years, such as education and health care.

US News report said, “Washington has solidified its place as a tech-sector powerhouse with its progressive politics, flat taxes, and industry-oriented university system. Amazon recently surpassed Boeing Co., as the state’s largest private employer, by the number of employees. Google and Facebook employ thousands of workers in the Seattle area, an expansion state leaders hope to see continue. But the Evergreen State also has its shortcomings”. These include high living and labor costs that stifle opportunity for the state’s residents. Unemployment also remains high, due to the effects of the pandemic on the economy. The news outlet said Washington has emerged as a national leader in business incubation. The state saw nearly 200 businesses receive venture capital funding in 2020.

The data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis says Washington has sustained a 5% annual growth rate in its gross domestic product during the 5 years preceding the coronavirus pandemic. The state has also seen expansions in the life sciences, clean energy, and space projects. The state’s agricultural sector remains strong, despite the trade war with China. The Seattle area’s quality of life combines with large tech employers such as Amazon and Microsoft to draw a huge amount of tech talent to the area. Point to be noted that Minnesota was ranked as the 2^nd best state, followed by Utah at No. 3, New Hampshire at No. 4, and Idaho at No. 5. The 5 lowest-ranked states were Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Alabama.