Washington is one of the ten best states for women, the 14th healthiest state, the 4th state in GDP growth, 6th in economic performance, the top-rated state economy, the 6th most business-friendly state, the state with the 3rd-lowest number of workplace fatalities, and the top state in software publishing jobs, just to name a few of our high marks.
While we are not particularly surprised that Bloomberg recently ranked our state the most innovative in the nation, we sure are proud to be at the very top of that list!
Bloomberg ranked the states using a points system based on six criteria: numbers of STEM professionals, innovation patents and holders of degrees in science and technology, intensity of research and development, productivity and the gross state product based on each employed resident.
So here’s what Bloomberg found:
- STEM professionals as a percentage of state population: 2.82%
- Science and tech degree holders as a percentage of state population: 9.51%
- Utility patents granted as a percentage of U.S. total: 4.45%
- State government R&D spending as a percentage of U.S. total: 1.75%
- Gross state product per employed person: $101,985
- Three-year change in productivity: 4.96%
- Public tech companies as a percentage of all public companies based in the state: 21.37%
California came in second and Massachusetts third. You’re curious about how other states did, aren’t you? Here’s the list.
To find out how Microsoft, Amazon, Boeing, Nintendo and T-Mobile were pivotal in our kicking all the other states’ tech booties, read this story.