Oklahoma improves in ranking of best and worst states for business

A new ranking of the best and worst states for business in 2019 by Chief Executive Magazine shows Oklahoma moved up three places to 18th best.

Texas remains number one for a second straight year while California is at the bottom of the list for a second consecutive year.

Chief Executive credited Oklahoma stating that its economy “is slowly rebounding with new investments in several sectors and a state initiative to better align resources, education and training with workforce needs.”

The magazine cited Amazon’s plans to open a new fulfillment center in Tulsa and Google’s intentions to expand its data center in Pryor. And it hailed recent groundbreaking by an Italian company, Sofidel Group, on a $360 million plant to support 300 jobs.

The publication also noted that five Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in Oklahoma: ONEOK, Devon, NGL Energy Partners, Chesapeake Energy and Williams.

According to the CEOs who were surveyed for the 2019 Best States & Worst States for business ranking by Chief Executive, Texas remained No. 1 this year, solidifying its long hold on the top spot. Florida once again was No. 2. Indiana remained No. 5. At least Tennessee leapt up to No. 3 while North Carolina dipped one spot, to No. 4.

As for the bottom of the list, the ranking of the worst seven states was unchanged for 2019: No. 44 Oregon, No. 45 Massachusetts, No. 46 Connecticut, No. 47 New Jersey, No. 48 Illinois, then New York at No. 49, and California in last place.

Of Oklahoma’s neighbors, Texas was number one. Colorado was 12. Arkansas was 21.  New Mexico was 31. Kansas was 29. Missouri was 24.

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