Forbes lists MO as 30th best state for business careers

Forbes ranks Missouri No. 30 on its 2013 list of the best states for business careers.

The list follows Forbes' recently released list of best places for business and careers, on which Springfield scored 72nd out of 200 cities.

The magazine's newer list ranks states based on business costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life for its population.

Missouri's top rank of 6th came in the regulatory environment category, which considers labor regulations, health insurance coverage mandates, occupational licensing and more. The state also ranked:

• 21st in business costs;
• 31st in quality of life;
• 32nd in economic climate;
• 41st in labor supply; and
• 42nd in growth prospects.

The state with roughly 6 million residents has a cost of doing business 7.5 percent below the national average, boasts college attainment of 26.4 percent and a median household income of $45,879, according to its profile.

Virginia ranked No. 1 on Forbes' list, while Maine placed 50th.