Illinois gets highest-ever ranking on technology and innovation list - Crain's Chicago Business

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Illinois moved up in a technology and innovation ranking because it’s gaining skilled workers from around the country and the world even as the state’s overall population is dropping.

The state rose to 13th from 16th on the latest New Economy Index from the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation. It’s the state’s highest ranking yet in the study, which has been conducted about every three years since 1999. The survey looks at multiple categories—from “knowledge” jobs and exports to venture capital and broadband access—with an eye toward the structure of the economy related to innovation and tech.

Illinois jumped to No. 2 from No. 11 three years ago in domestic in-migration. It also moved up to fourth from 19th in international immigration.

“There are more highly educated people moving into Illinois,” says Robert Atkinson, who wrote the report for ITIF, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.

The move comes even as the state’s overall population has been declining for several years, which has worried local and state leaders. But there have been signs that while lower-income residents were leaving, those with higher incomes are moving in, especially in Chicago.

Just behind Illinois in domestic in-migration were several neighboring states: Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri.

“It may be something to do with knowledge workers from the coast heading home or moving to more affordable places to live,” Atkinson says.

However, other than Minnesota, which ranked 11th overall in the study, Illinois is far ahead of neighboring states in the overall index. Missouri was 25th, while Indiana was 29th and Iowa was 35th. Wisconsin fell seven places to 33rd.

Massachusetts topped the ranking, followed by California, Utah, Maryland and Washington.

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