CNBC: NC in top 2 states for business for 6th straight year

North Carolina slipped one spot to No. 2 in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, ending its one-year return to the top while extending one of the nation’s longest streaks of top business rankings.

Ohio claimed the No. 1 spot this year, while Virginia ranked third. North Carolina has now finished among CNBC’s top three states for business for six consecutive years and in the top two for six straight years.

CNBC evaluates states using more than 130 metrics across 10 categories of competitiveness, including economy, workforce, infrastructure, business friendliness, education, technology and innovation, quality of life, cost of living, cost of doing business, and access to capital.

North Carolina posted gains in several key categories, helping keep it near the top of the rankings. The state ranked first in the economy, up from third last year; third in workforce, up from fourth; and eighth in technology and innovation, up from 13th. It also improved the cost of doing business and access to capital.

Donald Bryson, president and CEO of the John Locke Foundation, credited the state’s long-term economic policies.

“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,” Bryson said. “While other states rise and fall in the rankings, North Carolina has remained at or near the top because of years of pro-growth tax reform, responsible budgeting, a strong workforce, and a commitment to economic freedom. That sustained record is the real story, and it gives policymakers a strong foundation to build on.”

Gary Salamido, president & CEO of the NC Chamber, said the rankings reflect both North Carolina’s economic strengths and the policy choices that helped create them.

“North Carolina’s No. 2 ranking, and six consecutive years among the nation’s top two states for business, reflects sustained success built over time,” said Salamido, in a statement shared with Carolina Journal. “It is the result of strong policy choices, a talented workforce, and business leaders who continue to invest, create jobs, solve problems, and push our state to compete at the highest level. We are leading in some of the categories that matter most to long-term competitiveness.”

Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, said the state’s consistent performance reflects its diverse economy and workforce.

“North Carolina’s business climate is strengthened by the breadth of industries that call our state home, our world-class workforce, and the nation’s top-ranked economy,” Chung said in a statement shared with Carolina Journal. “Those advantages continue to attract companies of all sizes, from Fortune 500 corporations to international firms establishing a U.S. presence and manufacturers expanding long-standing operations.”

The state, however, lost ground in several categories. It ranked eighth for business friendliness, down from fourth; 13th for infrastructure, down from 11th; 12th for education, down from sixth; 34th for quality of life, down from 29th; and 35th for cost of living, down from 23rd.

Gov. Josh Stein said the rankings demonstrate both North Carolina’s economic momentum and the need to address the state’s rising cost of living and infrastructure needs.

“This ranking proves that we can’t rest on our laurels,” Stein said in a press release about the ranking. “Other states want what we have, and we’ve got to keep investing to build strong infrastructure, double down on our high quality of life, and make North Carolina more affordable to live, work, and raise a family.”

Stein said his administration is focused on lowering the costs of housing, child care, healthcare, and utilities while encouraging lawmakers to make similar investments.

Chung echoed the need for continued investment to preserve the state’s competitive standing.

“We’re pleased that CNBC has once again recognized North Carolina as one of the nation’s best places for business, but rankings like these also remind us that maintaining our competitive edge requires continued investment in our workforce, infrastructure, and quality of life,” Chung added.

Stein attributed the state’s declines in several categories to the General Assembly’s prolonged failure to pass a new comprehensive budget.

“When a state goes more than 1,000 days without passing a budget, you can’t be surprised to see some consequences,” Stein said. “I am confident that the budget is a launching pad, not our landing place.”

CNBC said it slightly adjusted its methodology for the 2026 rankings, giving infrastructure the greatest weight among its 10 competitiveness categories. 

The network attributed the change in methodology to businesses increasingly prioritizing locations with strong transportation networks, reliable utilities, abundant energy and water resources, and efficient permitting processes as they evaluate sites for advanced manufacturing, data centers, and other major investments. 

The latest rankings come after, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the state set a record for announced job creation in 2025, with companies pledging nearly 34,000 new jobs and more than $23 billion in investment. The department also identified North Carolina as the nation’s third-fastest-growing state in 2026.

“CNBC: NC in top 2 states for business for 6th straight year” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.