DUPAGE COUNTY BUSINESS BLOG

Illinois ranks low on CEO survey of business-friendly states - June 8, 2010

May 13, 2010

Illinois ranks low on CEO survey of business-friendly states
By: Lorene Yue

(Crain's) - Illinois is mired near the bottom on a list of the best states for business, according to a nationwide survey of CEOs.

In Chief Executive Magazine's annual "Best and Worst States for Business" list, Illinois ranks No. 46 out of 51 - the same spot as last year.

The list, which ranks the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, is based on responses from 651 CEOs nationwide. They were asked to rate each state in three main areas: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment.

Texas came in at No. 1 for the fifth year in a row, ahead of No. 2 North Carolina.
California landed at the bottom, just below New York.

A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity called the ranking a "one-dimensional view" that has limited measurements.

"Illinois has always had a very competitive business climate that is support by key assets including our centralized location, highly-skilled workforce and effective business incentive programs," she said in a statement.

Illinois has seen its ranking slip over the past five years. It was No. 17 in 2005.
The top five states for 2010 are:
    1. Texas
    2. North Carolina
    3. Tennessee
    4. Virginia
    5. Nevada

The full list can be found here: "Best & Worst States for Business 2010."