Ohio is Most Improved State in CNBC Rankings of Top States for Business

For the last five years, CNBC has ranked the Top States for Business.  The ranking measures states on 43 metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness such as cost of doing business, workforce, infrastructure and transportation, technology and innovation, etc.  Although ranked 23 overall in 2011, Ohio showed the most improvement of all states, jumping 11 places from its ranking as 34 in 2010. 

This was due in large part to a huge improvement in what CNBC calls its “most important category” -- cost of doing business.  Ohio moved into fifth place from last year’s 29th ranking in this area.  The state jumped 10 places (from 34 to 24) for its economy and five places (from 18 to 13) in education.  The state scored 15th in technology and innovation.  According to the ranking, top states for business prize innovation, nurture new ideas and have the infrastructure to support them. States were evaluated according to their support for innovation, the number of patents issued to their residents and the deployment of broadband services. Federal health and science research grants were also taken into account. 

For more details see the story on Ohio's business ranking.