Columbus, Ohio, April 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chief Govt journal’s annual record of the “Best & Worst States for Business” has ranked Ohio at No. 7 nationwide for 2026, and the No. 1 state within the Midwest. The state’s ascent into the Prime 10 and because the high Midwestern spot spotlight Ohio’s strategic give attention to establishing a business-friendly surroundings, providing websites that ideally go well with corporations’ wants, and ramping up efforts to develop a extremely expert workforce.
The rating relies on a survey of greater than 650 CEOs throughout the nation, who had been requested to fee states primarily based on how straightforward it’s to do enterprise in comparison with others.
“Ohio’s rise to the highest-ranked Midwestern state on Chief Executive’s Best & Worst States for Business list is proof that we are the best state in the Midwest for business,” stated Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “Ohio has laid the groundwork for success and earned the attention of companies both nationally and internationally through the strength of our communities of all sizes and the ideal business environment we’ve established here.”
The announcement marks the twenty second yr of the journal’s influential survey, which reaches greater than 42,000 CEOs evaluating the place to take a position, begin new companies, develop operations and relocate staff.
“Ohio’s climb from No. 41 in 2011 to now No. 7 in Chief Executive’s latest CEO survey is a testament to the statewide collaboration, strategic investments, and infrastructure advantage that are part of the state’s long-term plan to make it easy for vital industries to invest here,” stated JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Because our state and local partners are working in lockstep and have a shared vision, we deliver industry leaders solutions to their challenges and confidence in Ohio’s value proposition for their growth.”
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Ohio’s sturdy efficiency stems from strengths in:
Infrastructure: CNBC ranked Ohio greatest within the nation in 2025. Ohio has the fourth-largest interstate freeway system within the nation, the fourth-largest community of working railroads and the fifth-largest community of warehousing and storage providers.Value of doing enterprise: Ohio levies no company revenue tax. The state additionally not too long ago doubled its industrial exercise tax (CAT) exclusion threshold – from $3 million to $6 million – exempting roughly 90% of Ohio-based companies from the tax solely.Workforce: Ohio’s workforce is 5.5 million sturdy – the seventh largest within the U.S., and the third largest manufacturing workforce in the usCost of dwelling: Ohio is among the many high 10 states within the nation for affordability, with a price of dwelling roughly 8% to 11% decrease than the nationwide common.
JobsOhio 2030, a five-year strategic plan introduced in September of 2025, builds for future development by six strategic areas of focus: expertise, revolutionary analysis, vitality, synthetic intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and the multitude of things that make Ohio unmatched for dwelling, working, and placing down roots.
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Click on right here for Chief Govt’s 2026 Greatest and Worst States for Enterprise protection.
