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Business Climate & Competitiveness

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Quality of Life & Quality Places

Florida Earns Second Place in 2012 Business Climate Ranking

CEO Ranking

In a national survey of chief executive officers, respondents perceive that Florida is the second best state for conducting business in 2012. The survey, administered by Chief Executive Magazine, collected responses from 650 business leaders to rank business climates in various states. CEOs rank states based on categories such as taxation, regulation, workforce, and quality of life. Florida’s rank advanced by one spot since 2011, and advanced by eight spots since 2008. Florida received five out of five possible points for its living environment. The state’s workforce quality and taxation environment resulted in four out of five points, respectively.

According to the CEO survey, Texas remains in first place as the best state in which to conduct business. Texas earned perfect scores in the areas of taxation and workforce quality, but received four out of five points for its living environment. Texas currently leads the U.S. in total job creation with a net employment gain of 245,700 from March 2011 to March 2012. Similarly, Florida claims an above average net employment increase of 89,800 over-the-year, with a 1.7 percentage point drop in its jobless rate over the same period. Turning to the worst performing state, California once again received last place for its business environment. Although California earned high ratings for its living environment, the state’s taxation and regulatory policies received the lowest possible rating.

Florida Net Job Creation in 2012

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Key Indicators

Home Foreclosures

Foreclosure activity is falling in Florida, but the state ranks second highest among all states in total foreclosure activity...

Consumer Confidence

Florida consumer confidence indices measure perceptions of personal finances now compared to a year ago and perceptions of U.S...

Population

Florida has the 4th largest population in the U.S., estimated at 18.8 million in 2010...

Unemployment Rate

Florida has an labor force of over 9 million, ready to meet the workforce needs of businesses...