Florida was ranked among the best states for business for the fifth straight year in Chief Executive magazine’s 13th annual Best & Worst States for Business survey. See the slideshow to see the 10 best and worst states, and to see where Florida ranked.
The Sunshine State consistently has ranked among the leaders since the survey’s inception — in part because CEOs find it one of the top living environments. The Chief Executive rankings reflect CEO perceptions of best and worst states based on a range of key measures, which drive investments in offices, factories and other facilities that bring jobs to a region. This year, more than 500 CEOs participated in the survey.
The survey also presents category rankings for workforce, taxes/regulation, living environment and best communication of business incentives. Florida’s rankings in key categories include:
- Workforce quality: No. 18
- Taxes and regulation: No. 8
- Living environment: No. 5
Additionally, states were ranked by industry. Florida was No. 1 in health care and pharmaceuticals/medical products, and was No. 2 in retail, technology/telecommunications and financial services. The Sunshine State ranked No. 5 in manufacturing, and tied with Indiana and Tennessee for No. 10 in energy/utilities.
“The rankings capture current CEO perceptions of Florida’s business climate, and are a good gauge of the state’s ability to attract and retain business investment in the future,” said Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive Group, in a prepared statement.
