Ohio claimed the No. 1 spot in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business list, nudging North Carolina to No. 2 and leaving Virginia in third. The shift ends North Carolina’s one-year return to the top but continues a multi-year pattern of exceptional performance: the state has now finished among the top three for six straight years and in the top two for six consecutive years.
How CNBC grades states
CNBC’s ranking framework draws on more than 130 individual metrics organized into 10 categories that gauge competitiveness. The categories include:
- Economy
- Workforce
- Infrastructure
- Business friendliness
- Education
- Technology and innovation
- Quality of life
- Cost of living
- Cost of doing business
- Access to capital
North Carolina’s performance and implications
North Carolina improved in several of those measured areas in the latest rankings. Notable category movements for the state included:
| Category | 2025 Rank | 2026 Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 3 | 1 |
| Workforce | 4 | 3 |
| Technology and innovation | 13 | 8 |
The state also registered improvements in measures tied to the cost of doing business and access to capital. Those category gains help explain why North Carolina remains a top destination for corporate expansion decisions and venture activity, even after ceding the No. 1 overall position this year.
Voices on the ranking and policy
Business and policy leaders framed the result as validation of long-term choices. The John Locke Foundation’s president and CEO pointed to sustained economic policy as a driver:
“North Carolina’s sixth consecutive year as one of CNBC’s top two states for business reflects the strength and durability of our state’s economic climate,”
Similarly, the NC Chamber’s president and CEO highlighted the role of policy, workforce and private investment in maintaining competitiveness.
What it means for households and businesses
For households and employers, sustained top-tier rankings typically matter in three ways:
- Investment attraction: High placements can translate into more company relocations and expansions, bringing jobs and payroll to the state.
- Talent markets: Strong workforce and innovation scores can make it easier for businesses to recruit skilled workers, while also offering residents broader employment options.
- Costs and capital: Improvements in the cost of doing business and access to capital can lower barriers for startups and reduce operating overhead for existing firms.
While rankings summarize many data points, they do not guarantee future performance. Policymakers and business leaders will likely point to the category-level gains as evidence that current approaches are producing measurable outcomes — and as a basis for sustaining policies aimed at growth and competitiveness.
The national picture is dynamic: Ohio’s rise to the top and Virginia’s placement at third underscore that state competitiveness shifts with changes in economic conditions, workforce trends and policy decisions.
As CNBC’s methodology combines a broad set of metrics, states that move up the list typically see both wins and lingering challenges across different categories. For North Carolina, remaining close to the summit while improving in economy, workforce and technology suggests continued momentum that could influence investment decisions and labor-market opportunities in the year ahead.
