Chief Executive surveyed 651 CEOs across the U.S.  and once again gave Texas top honors, closely followed by North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Wisconsin, which at 42^nd is actually one place higher than last year’s ranking, is among the 5 states that have fallen the most in the last five years. In 2005, Wisconsin ranked 26^th, 16 spots higher than this year’s ranking. Only New Jersey has fallen further since then.

Wisconsin ranks 30^th in net business migration and 35^th in debt per resident.

Those business leaders who were surveyed were told to draw upon their direct experience to rate each state in three general categories: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment.

The CEOs ranked California as the worst state for business, with New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts filling out the bottom five-a line-up, according to ChiefExecutive.net, that is virtually identical to last year’s poorest performers.

See the chart, here.

Share