Florida jumped from ninth place to first place on Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2018 Merit Shop Scorecard based on the state’s free enterprise and open competition approach to the construction sector, increased career and technical education opportunities, and job growth rates. Now in its fourth year, the scorecard rates laws, programs, policies and statistics to highlight states that have created the conditions for growth and identify areas where strategic improvements are needed.

Michigan saw the biggest improvement in its ranking, vaulting from 24th in 2017 to seventh this year after the repeal of its prevailing wage law, which will result in greater competition and lower costs for construction projects.

Comparatively, California tumbled from the 38th to the 50th position this year due to a decreased focus on workforce development and CTE. California was trailed only by Illinois, which ranked last for the second year in a row with an F rating in project labor agreements, prevailing wage, Right to Work and workforce development incentives.