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Top States for Business in America 2026: Full rankings
CNBC • • business
Key Points:
- CNBC's 2026 ranking of America's Top States for Business evaluates all 50 states using 138 metrics across 10 key competitiveness categories, reflecting factors important to corporate site selection and economic development.
- Infrastructure is the most heavily weighted category in 2026, emphasizing proximity to transport hubs, utilities, fresh water access, abundant energy, and streamlined permitting processes for businesses.
- The Economy category, which was the top focus in 2025, falls to second place, followed by Workforce, as the national skills gap persists despite a cooling job market and productivity gains from AI.
- States can earn up to 2,500 points based on their performance across these categories, determining their overall ranking as America's Top States for Business.
- The study, now in its 20th year, adjusts category weightings annually to reflect evolving market priorities and business needs.
