Ohio No. 1 State in the Midwest for Business, According to CEOs Nationwide
April 17, 2026
Chief Executive magazine's annual list of the “Best & Worst States for Business” has ranked Ohio at No. 7 nationwide for 2026, and the No. 1 state in the Midwest. The state's ascent into the Top 10 and as the top Midwestern spot highlight Ohio's strategic focus on establishing a business-friendly environment, offering sites that ideally suit companies’ needs, and ramping up efforts to develop a highly skilled workforce.
The ranking is based on a survey of more than 650 CEOs across the country, who were asked to rate states based on how easy it is to do business compared to 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,” said 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.”