Rhode Island landed near the bottom of CNBC’s 2026 Top States for Business list, a fresh indication that the Ocean State’s economic reputation continues to lag its New England neighbors. The national business ranking placed Rhode Island 48th overall, with particularly poor marks in infrastructure even as quality-of-life measures ranked in the state’s favor.
What the ranking found
CNBC’s annual scorecard — a composite that weighs factors including infrastructure, workforce, economy and cost of doing business — identified infrastructure as Rhode Island’s weakest area. The state finished last in that category, a result that reflects long-standing complaints about roads, bridges and deferred maintenance across Rhode Island.
- Overall ranking: 48th in CNBC’s 2026 list.
- Infrastructure: Dead last among states.
- Quality of life: One of the few categories where Rhode Island placed above the national middle, ranking 16th.
The CNBC ranking also notes the state’s mixed performance across other business measures: workforce and education scored below average, while cost and access-to-capital metrics were weak. Those markers feed into the broader narrative that Rhode Island struggles to attract and retain employers and investment.
Affordability and resident sentiment
Affordability remains a major local concern. A separate University of New Hampshire survey cited in coverage found that more than four in five of the 604 Rhode Islanders surveyed said the state was either "not very" or "not at all" affordable. Roughly one-third of respondents said they were considering moving out of state within five years.
"not very" or "not at all" affordable
Those attitudes matter politically and economically: perceptions of high living costs can deter skilled workers and weigh on long-term population and tax-base growth.
Historic context
Rhode Island’s placement in this year’s CNBC ranking continues a pattern. The state has frequently landed in the lower tier of these annual lists: CNBC first ranked Rhode Island 48th in 2007, it was 46th last year, and the best finish in recent memory was 45th in 2022. Rhode Island has also landed last or near-last in other national business assessments over the years.
| Year | CNBC ranking |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 48 |
| 2022 | 45 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 48 |
Local leaders, including Gov. Dan McKee, have emphasized job creation and economic development in recent years, but the CNBC findings suggest those priorities face structural headwinds: aging infrastructure, affordability pressures and gaps in workforce and education readiness.
For residents and business owners, the ranking is more than a headline: it reflects the daily realities of commute times, bridge closures and costs that shape where companies locate and whether young professionals stay. Policy responses — from capital investments to workforce programs — will be watched closely as officials try to translate the criticism into concrete improvements.
