North Dakota, the least visited state in the US, has the lowest unemployment rate (2.6%) while Rhode Island has the highest (9.0%). Tourism is Rhode Island’s second largest industry after health services/hospitals.
Agriculture is the largest industry in North Dakota (it produces 87% of the nation’s flaxseed). And it’s the fastest growing state in the US by GDP (growth rate 8.3%). But did you know it’s the only state with a state owned bank and flour mill? The state is sitting pretty, financially, due to a combination of oil related development and investing in technology (Fargo is home to the second largest campus of Microsoft with 1700 employees). In fact, North Dakota has had a budget surplus every year after the 2008 market crash!
