Category

Strengths (S)

Weaknesses (W)

Opportunities (O)

Threats (T)

Ease of Doing Business

Tax Competitiveness: Highly competitive corporate tax structure, ranking favorably (e.g., 6th nationally in corporate tax rank, 27th overall in tax competitiveness). Strong Incentives: Pro-business policies and an array of statutory and discretionary incentives for attracting large-scale investment.

Regional Development Disparity: Significant economic development needs persist in certain regions, such as Appalachian Mississippi, where infrastructure and job creation lag.

Attracting Reshoring: Ranked 3rd nationally for projected jobs created by reshoring in 2025, leveraging its strategic location, infrastructure, and policies to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US.

Slow GDP Growth: State GDP growth forecasts are projected to be modest compared to the national average, potentially limiting available resources for state-level business support.

Domestic Manufacturing

Key Anchor Industries: Strong foundation in Transportation Equipment Manufacturing (e.g., automotive and aerospace), which is a key driver of GDP. Reshoring Momentum: High success in attracting manufacturers relocating operations back to the US.

Sectoral Contraction: Projected near-term job losses in the overall manufacturing sector (e.g., 2.7% decrease in employment projected for 2025), particularly in Furniture and Wood Products.

Advanced Manufacturing Partnership: Formation of a tri-state (AL, GA, MS) partnership (MAGNET) to capture global leadership in the electric vehicle (EV) and advanced automotive space.

Global Competition/Job Loss: Pressure from global competitors, leading to a projected decline in employment in traditional manufacturing sub-sectors like wood and furniture products.

Sustainability Initiatives

Targeted Funding: Leveraging the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund (BP Oil Spill settlement money) for significant economic and environmental restoration and resilience projects on the coast. Water & Energy Focus: Active research and policy focus on the critical Water-Energy Nexus, infrastructure resilience, and watershed management (e.g., annual Water and Energy Conference).

Critical Infrastructure Gaps: A key challenge is the lack of adequate and reliable water and wastewater systems in many areas, particularly distressed rural counties, hindering sustainable economic development.

"Blue Economy" Growth: Gulf Coast restoration efforts and university research create an opportunity to develop a "Blue Economy" centered on marine science, clean technology, and coastal resilience.

Environmental Liabilities: Ongoing environmental challenges like harmful algal blooms and beach water advisories require continuous regulatory intervention, posing a risk to public health and tourism.

Balance of Trade

Small Business Exports: Over 75% of the state's goods-exporting firms are small businesses, showing widespread global market participation. High Export Value: State exports goods worth billions of dollars, contributing significantly to the national export total.

Export Concentration Risk: A substantial portion of the state's exports may be concentrated in a few major industries (e.g., transportation equipment), making the trade balance sensitive to market changes in those specific sectors.

Export Promotion: State initiatives and the Appalachian Development Plan include specific strategies to promote export trading and encourage foreign direct investment to expand trade value.

Global Economic Slowdown: A slowdown in the US or global economy could directly impact the demand for Mississippi's exports, particularly in capital-intensive goods like transportation equipment.