In which U.S. states is the economic climate bleakest?

To find out, WalletHub compared the states and Washington, D.C.,in three key areas: economic activity, economic health, andinnovation potential. It identified 23 relevant metrics, rangingfrom GDP growth, exports per capita and business startup activityto the unemployment rate, the number of residents lacking healthinsurance, and the unfunded liability of its pension plans.

Add in such additional factors as the foreclosure rate, themedian annual household income, the immigration of U.S. knowledgeworkers, the number of independent-inventor patents, andentrepreneurial activity, and you get a picture of the state'soverall economic climate.

States were ranked based on WalletHub's calculation of theoverall score for each state using the weighted average across allmetrics.

Hawaii

Often touted as paradise—if you can afford itshigher-than-average taxes and cost of living—Hawaii came in10^th from the bottom because, among other things, itseconomic activity rank placed it at 50^th—while,surprisingly, its export rate per capita was even lower: the lowestin the nation. For economic health, the state ranked17^th, but for innovation potential it only made39^th place.

It also ranked 44^th in venture capital funding percapita and 49^th in the percentage of jobs in high-techindustries—although who goes to Hawaii for tech? Unemployment isn'ta problem in the state, though; it tied with North Dakota for thefifth-lowest unemployment rate in the country.

Oklahoma

The wind may come sweeping across the plain here, but a39^th place finish for economic activity isn't great.Neither is a 42^nd place ranking for economic health or a46^th place ranking for innovation potential.

The state also finished 50^th for exports percapita.

Alabama

Alabama's 37^th place innovation potential outpacedthe state's economic activity, at 44^th place, and its46^th place economic health ranking.

Alabama residents will not be pleased to know that the stateranked 47^th for median annual household income, and48^th for independent-inventor patents per 1,000working-age residents.

Kentucky

The Bluegrass State's 30^th place finish for economicactivity makes a better showing than its 50^th placeranking for economic health and 45^th place forinnovation potential.

Placing 49^th for independent-inventor patents per1,000 working-age residents isn't exactly a sterlingrecommendation, either; nor is Kentucky's 48^th place forlowest state-government surplus per capita and for lowest medianannual household income.

Louisiana

The Pelican State's economic activity isn't all that bad, at29^th place, probably thanks in part to its first-placetie with the state of Washington for most exports per capita, butits economic health—at 49^th—and innovationpotential—also at 49^th—helped to drag it down.

Louisiana came in at 45^th for venture funding capitalper capita, near the bottom, at 48^th, for nonfarmpayrolls change. And the state was 49th for state-governmentsurplus per capita and 50^th in immigration of U.S.knowledge workers.

New Mexico

New Mexico's innovation potential was considerably higher, at15^th place, than either its economicactivity—47^th place—or its economic health, at51^st place.

But in a study in contrasts, it surprisingly comes in secondplace for the highest percentage of jobs in high-techindustries—yet finishes in 51^st place, with the lowestimmigration of U.S. knowledge workers of any state.

Maine

Maine was an outlier, a New England state finishing near thebottom. Its economic activity held it down to 48^thplace, while economic health was only 45^th andinnovation potential dragged in at 47^th place.

Maine also had the fourth-lowest GDP growth in the country.

West Virginia

West Virginia's economic activity placed 43^rd, whileits economic health placed it in 47^th place and itsinnovation potential was even worse, at 50^th.

Interestingly, its GDP growth placed it at the other end of thescale, in fourth place, while the state finished dead last inbusiness startup activity and tied for 48^th place forits unemployment rate. It placed 49^th for nonfarmpayrolls change and for median annual household income,50^th for the percentage of jobs in high-tech industries,and 49^th for the number of independent-inventor patentsper 1,000 working-age residents.

Arkansas

For economic activity, the Natural State was right down near thebottom, at 49^th; economic health was a tad better, at36^th, but innovation potential was at the very bottom:51^st place.

The state was 50^th in median annual household income,48^th when it came to the percentage of jobs in high-techindustries, 50^th for independent-inventor patents per1,000 working-age residents, and 43^rd in venture capitalfunding per capita.

Mississippi

The state ranked as having the worst economy in the union wasMississippi, due to its rankings of 51^st in economicactivity, 48^th in economic health, and 44^thin innovation potential.

Mississippi also placed 50^th in GDP growth,47^th in unemployment, 51^st in median annualhousehold income, and 51^st for independent-inventorpatents per 1,000.