14 Core Economic Indicators National Ranking
Economic Scale & Vitality National Ranking
Innovation & Enterprise National Ranking
Human & Capital Living National Ranking
Structural & Policy National Ranking
STATE PERFORMANCE GAUGE CHARTS
US STATES ECONOMIC & INNOVATION COMPETITIVENESS
An executive-grade benchmarking index developed by theboardiQ LLC to evaluate and rank the macroeconomic strength, innovation capacity, and structural competitiveness of 50 States in the United States.
Designed for corporate board directors, institutional investors, and policymakers, the index synthesizes raw macroeconomic and institutional data into a standardized 0–100 Composite Score across 4 Strategic Macro Pillars and 14 Underlying Sub-Metrics.
The Executive Dashboard incorporates a boardroom governance matrix mapping strategic mandates, benchmark metrics, director compensation, and critical oversight inquiries across 9 Board Roles/Industry Lens
COMPETITIVENESS SWOT
Illinois
Strengths
• Major financial, commercial, and freight transportation hub (Chicago)• Highly diverse economy spanning manufacturing, finance, tech, and agriculture (#7)• Top-tier labor productivity (#5) and high concentration of Fortune 500 HQs (#5)
Weaknesses
• Severe fiscal liabilities, high pension debt, and weak structural tax climate (#38)• Heavy international trade deficit (-$100.1B) and high property taxes• Population out-migration trends and elevated unemployment rate (4.6%)
Opportunities
• Growth in technology, fintech, and clean energy transition• Quantum computing hub development and manufacturing innovation• Modernization of logistics, freight, and distribution networks
Threats
• Long-term state fiscal instability and budget challenges• Intense regional competition for corporate headquarters and high earners• Infrastructure maintenance backlogs and climate vulnerabilities
METRICS DEEPDIVE
Economic Scale & Vitality
GDP
Trade
Trade Overall Rank | Trade Surplus / Deficit | Exports in Millions USD | Total US Overall Exports 2026 YTD | Export % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
49 | -$100,158 | $55,625 | $1,639,475 | 3.39% |
Imports in Millions USD | Total US Overall Imports 2026 YTD | Import % |
|---|---|---|
$155,783 | $2,415,187 | 6.45% |