LANSING – Michigan’s overall economic competitiveness has improved at an “impressive rate,” a study released Wednesday by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce showed, with the state jumping nine spots to be the 30th most competitive state in the union.

The state saw improvements in all the factors the study measured, showing the biggest improvement in the general macroeconomic environment where it jumped from 31st in the nation to 20th.

It was the third such study released by the Michigan Chamber Foundation. The first study in 2012 said the state was the 47th most competitive, and in 2013, it said Michigan was the 39th most competitive.

Nationally, Utah ranked as the most competitive state in the study, which was conducted by Northwood University. Massachusetts was considered the 50th most competitive.

According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, in August both Utah and Massachusetts had lower jobless rates than Michigan. Utah had an unemployment rate of 3.6 percent and Massachusetts stood at 5.8 percent. Michigan was at 7.4 percent.

But Michigan’s improvement also meant it was the third most competitive of the Great Lakes states. Indiana ranked the highest at 18, then Minnesota stood at 29th. Ohio was right behind Michigan at 31, Wisconsin at 36, Pennsylvania at 38, Illinois at 39 and then New York at 45.

The state ranked best overall in terms of debt and taxation, where it stood 12th nationwide, up from 14 a year before.

Its worst rankings were in workforce composition and cost and in labor and capital formation, where it stood 38th in each. The workforce number was down from 43rd in 2013 and the labor number was down from 44th in 2013.

In terms of regulatory environment, the state stood at 23rd in the study, down from 26th the year before.

Timothy Nash of Northwood, who led the study, said from the business perspective there were some areas moving more slowly than others. “Michigan is clearly proving that it is open for business,” he said.

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