More than 600 CEOs rated states on a wide range of criteria from taxation and regulation to workforce quality and living environment, in Chief Executive’s sixth annual special report.  651 CEOs across the U.S. again gave North Carolina high honors by ranking them the 2^nd Best State for Business.

The business leaders were asked to draw upon their direct experience to rate each state in three general categories: taxation and regulation, quality of workforce and living environment. Within each category respondents graded states in five subcategories, as well as ranking each in terms of its importance to the respondent and how individual states measure up (Click here to see How CEOs Grade the States chart).