America's top bosses continue to like Tennessee's business climate, although the Volunteer State slipped a notch in the newest ranking by Chief Executive magazine's "best and worst states for business."
Tennessee dipped from third place last year to fourth place this year among the magazine's survey of 511 CEOs across the country. Georgia, which ranked 10th last year, rose to the No. 5 slot in the newest CEO ranking.
Alabama declined by seven spots from last year and ranked about average this year, or No. 24, among the 50 states in the view of CEOs.
The top three states were Texas, Florida and North Carolina -- all states that boast lower taxes, wages, cost of living and energy costs.
In the annual survey of corporate CEOs, states are measured across three key categories included taxes and regulations, quality of the workforce, and living environment, which includes such considerations as quality of education, cost of living, affordable housing, social amenities and crime rates.
Texas remained the best state for business for the 11th year in row in the Chief Executive magazine rank. Since the recession began in December 2007, Texas has added a net 1.2 million jobs, or nearly double the 700,000 net jobs created in the other 49 states combined.
California ranked last in the survey, followed by New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
One CEO survey respondent said California and Oregon "are essentially anti-business, whereas Texas and Tennessee do everything possible to make business comfortable and more successful."
Another CEO said "the good states ask what they can do for you; the bad states ask what they can get from you."