Ease of doing business
theboardiQ Economic Relevance Score, ranks States of USA based on 11 parameters - F500 Cos Representation | Trade Surplus or Deficit | GDP | Agriculture | Innovation | Manufacturing | Employment | Tax | Cost of Living | Disposable Income and Education.
Population | % of overall Population | US Overall |
|---|---|---|
5,957,493 | 1.8% | 340,110,988 |
National Ranking Index
Colorado: Economic and Trade SWOT Analysis (October 2025)
This SWOT analysis table focuses on Colorado's current economic profile, with an emphasis on its business environment, manufacturing sector, commitment to sustainability, and role in global trade.
Category | Strengths (Internal Positive) | Weaknesses (Internal Negative) | Opportunities (External Positive) | Threats (External Negative) |
Ease of Doing Business | Highly Entrepreneurial:Â Ranked as one of the most entrepreneurial states due to high startup survival rates and a strong pipeline of new business applications. | High Regulatory Burden/Cost:Â Business leaders cite regulatory costs as the top reason for hesitancy in new investment, with many finding the climate more costly than other states. | Federal Funding & Strategic Focus:Â Maximizing utilization of federal funding (e.g., for infrastructure or clean energy projects) to offset local costs. | Increased Competition from Other States:Â Neighboring and competing states actively reducing regulatory/tax burdens to attract businesses and capital investment. |
Domestic Manufacturing | High-Value/Advanced Focus:Â Strong presence in high-tech manufacturing, including aerospace, computer/electronics, and defense (e.g., Lockheed Martin). | Slowing Growth/Contribution:Â Manufacturing GDP growth has been sluggish or negative in recent periods, suggesting the sector is not a major current driver of overall state economic growth. | "Buy Clean Colorado" Act:Â State law creates guaranteed demand for lower-emissions building materials, stimulating a green manufacturing sub-sector. | Global Tariff Uncertainty:Â Volatile federal trade policies and new tariffs on imports/exports create uncertainty and supply chain risk for Colorado-based manufacturers. |
Sustainability Initiatives | Pioneering State & Local Policy:Â Strong commitment to climate action at the state and county levels (e.g., Boulder County's aggressive GHG reduction goals). | Emissions from Key Sectors:Â Transportation remains the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, requiring massive and costly infrastructure/policy changes. | Green Technology Commercialization:Â The state's research ecosystem and "Sustainability Challenges" drive the creation and commercialization of new clean-tech startups. | High Initial Transition Costs:Â The capital investment required for deep decarbonization in areas like fleet electrification and building energy efficiency is substantial. |
Balance of Trade & Global Contribution | Exports Driven by Key Sectors:Â Strong international sales in high-value products like Bovine Meat, Integrated Circuits, and Aerospace Parts. | Negative Trade Balance:Â Colorado is a net importer of goods (e.g., $896M Exports vs. $1.5B Imports in July 2025), contributing to a state-level trade deficit. | Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Markets:Â High export reliance on FTA partners (e.g., Mexico and Canada) provides a relatively stable core export market despite global volatility. | Economic Slowdown and Federal Policy:Â Global and US economic deceleration, coupled with rising national trade deficits, pressures Colorado's export growth. |
Overall Summary of Colorado's Economic and Trade Position (October 2025)
Colorado's economy is defined by a strategic tension between its high-growth, innovative sectors and its increasingly burdensome operating environment.
The state's core Strengths lie in its entrepreneurial dynamism and its focus on advanced, high-value industries (tech, aerospace, professional services). Its workforce is highly educated, and its early adoption of Sustainability Initiatives is actively creating new market opportunities (e.g., "Buy Clean" policy).
However, key Weaknesses include a business environment that many companies perceive as increasingly costly and highly regulated, evidenced by a deceleration in business investment intention and manufacturing growth. The state is also a net importer, maintaining a negative Balance of Trade.
The primary Opportunities for future growth are tied to leveraging its innovative culture to scale its Green Technology and maximizing access to large, relatively stable FTA Export Markets. The most significant Threats are primarily external, including the dampening effect of global economic uncertainty and volatile federal tariff policies, compounded by the risk of losing businesses to competitor states with lower regulatory costs.
In summary, Colorado remains a hub of innovation and talent but must address its rising internal costs and regulatory complexity to prevent external economic pressures from halting its moderate expansion.
1 Fortune 500 representation
The map represents number of Fortune 500 companies present in each State
Clicking on table contents will take you to the source data
2 Balance of Trade
The map represents Trade Surplus / Deficit in Millions USD of each State in YTD 2025
In Millions USD - 2025 YTD
Imports in Millions USD | US Imports 2025 YTD | % of US Imports |
|---|---|---|
$5,401 | $1,224,182 | 0.44% |
9 Education
The map represents Education Rankings for each State
Education Overall Rank | Quality of Education Rank | % of Population with Bachelor's Degree | % of Population with Associates' Degree | % of Population with High School Diploma or Equivalent | % of Population with Graduate or Professional Degree | %of Population with less than High School Diploma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 33 | 46.4 | 8.2 | 19.3 | 18.1 | 2.9 |