Perennial CEO favorite Texas topped Chief Executive’s Best State for Business list in 2022 for the 18th consecutive time. “This important milestone is a testament to Texas’s strong and enduring reputation among the nation’s business leaders,” said Robert Allen, president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation after the rankings were announced on April 26. “CEOs of businesses that have relocated to or expanded their operations in Texas frequently tell us how much they appreciate Texas’s business-friendly climate.”

CEOs say low taxes, the low cost of doing business, talented pools of workers, and a superior quality of life are among the reasons behind their rankings, according to the Chief Executive survey. At the bottom of the list were #46 Washington, #47 New Jersey, #48 Illinois, #49 New York, and #50 California — all unchanged in their rankings from previous years.