Business Climate
New Jersey’s poor business climate—driven by heavy regulations and the nation’s highest business taxes—has cost the state jobs and investment, and GSI backs reforms to make it competitive again.
See How New Jersey Compares
49th
in Business Climate Ranking (Tax Foundation)
11.5%
business tax rate —
highest in the U.S. (Tax Foundation)
46th
in entrepreneurship (WalletHub)
35th
in GDP growth — 1.1% in Q1 2026 vs. 1.4% U.S. growth (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
Featured Business Climate Work
Independent Contractor Rules Threaten New Jersey’s Small Businesses and Jobs: Lessons from California’s Failed Approach
A new analysis from the Garden State Initiative warns that a proposed rule from the New Jersey Department of Labor could significantly restrict flexible work…
