Ohio leads CNBC’s 2026 state business competitiveness ranking

Ohio ranked first in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business study, ahead of North Carolina, Virginia and Texas, after the network scored all 50 states across 138 measures in 10 categories. The ranking offers companies, investors and policymakers a comparative view of state competitiveness at a time when infrastructure, energy access and permitting are central to corporate location decisions.

CNBC said the study, now in its 20th year, evaluates factors businesses consider when choosing where to invest and hire, along with the issues states emphasize in economic development campaigns. Each category is weighted according to how often states use it as a competitive selling point, and states can receive as many as 2,500 points.

Infrastructure carried the heaviest weighting in 2026, according to CNBC, replacing the economy as the top category. The network said the shift reflected demand for transport links, utility capacity, fresh water and energy supplies, including for advanced manufacturing and data centers. For the first time, CNBC also included ease of permitting in the rankings.

The economy ranked as the second-weighted category, followed by workforce. CNBC said the labor market has cooled while artificial intelligence has lifted productivity, even as a national skills gap remains.

Top and bottom performers

Ohio’s overall win was supported by first-place rankings in infrastructure and cost of doing business, CNBC’s category table showed. North Carolina placed second overall and led the economy category, while Virginia ranked third overall and second in infrastructure. Texas, fourth overall, ranked first for workforce and second for economy.

Among category leaders, CNBC ranked Vermont first for quality of life, California first for technology and innovation and access to capital, North Dakota first for business friendliness, Massachusetts first for education, and West Virginia first for cost of living.

Hawaii finished last overall, with Alaska at No. 49 and Rhode Island at No. 48. CNBC’s table placed Hawaii 50th in infrastructure and cost of doing business, while Alaska ranked last for access to capital and education. Rhode Island ranked last in the economy category.

Full CNBC 2026 ranking

• 1. Ohio
• 2. North Carolina
• 3. Virginia
• 4. Texas
• 5. Minnesota
• 6. Michigan
• 7. Georgia
• 8. Florida
• 9. Tennessee
• 10. Indiana
• 11. Washington
• 12. Illinois
• 13. Pennsylvania
• 14. Arizona
• 15. Massachusetts
• 16. Utah
• 17. California
• 18. New York
• 19. Iowa
• 20. Wyoming
• 21. Alabama
• 22. Wisconsin
• 23. Connecticut
• 23. South Carolina
• 25. Colorado
• 26. Nebraska
• 27. Kentucky
• 28. Arkansas
• 29. North Dakota
• 30. Idaho
• 31. New Jersey
• 32. Delaware
• 33. Nevada
• 34. New Hampshire
• 35. Maine
• 36. Maryland
• 37. Kansas
• 38. Missouri
• 39. Oklahoma
• 40. Vermont
• 41. New Mexico
• 42. Oregon
• 43. Mississippi
• 44. South Dakota
• 45. Montana
• 46. West Virginia
• 47. Louisiana
• 48. Rhode Island
• 49. Alaska
• 50. Hawaii

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.