CEOs move Michigan up nine spots in Chief Executive magazine survey of Best and Worst States for Business

Michigan gets second-largest gain among other states

TED MEDIA CONTACT: DAN OLSEN
517-290-7807 | olsend1@michigan.gov

Thursday, May 3, 2018

LANSING, Mich. – CEOs moved Michigan up nine places from last year in Chief Executive magazine’s 14th annual Best & Worst States for Business survey, released this week, landing at No. 27 on the list.

Last year alone, Michigan created more than 47,600 new private-sector jobs, improved its competitiveness with business tax incentives like the Good Jobs for Michigan and Michigan Thrive, and reduced its unemployment rate for the eighth consecutive year to the state’s lowest point since 2010.  

Since 2011, Michigan has created more than 540,000 private-sector jobs. 

“This new survey shows Michigan has come a long way in a short amount of time,” said Gov. Rick Snyder. “It also proves we are moving in the right direction and laying the foundation for sustainable, long-term success. We are creating a better business climate ready to attract the hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs coming back to our state in industries like manufacturing, information technology, health care and other professional trades.”

State leaders anticipate the Marshall Plan for Talent will move the state further faster, knowing it will have more than 800,000 jobs to fill through 2024 in high-demand career fields like manufacturing and information technology.

“Michigan is not letting up, nor will it sit on the sidelines. This survey reaffirms we’re headed up the right path, but there’s still more work to be done,” Talent and Economic Development Department of Michigan Director Roger Curtis said. “Through efforts like the Marshall Plan for Talent, we will continue to push Michigan even further in the race for the best place to do business and find talent.”

“Our efforts to put in place a competitive tax structure, recruit and retain talent, and support vibrant communities have proven to be an effective strategy in growing Michigan’s economy,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “CEOs across the country are taking notice, with Michigan ranked among the top five states for major new and expanded facilities, and more than half a million new private sector jobs in the state since 2011.”

Michigan’s improvement was the second-largest gain among states this year, next to Rhode Island which jumped 10 spots to No. 32.

###