CNBC has released its 2025 rankings for America’s Top States for Business, marking the study’s 19th year of evaluating state competitiveness. This comprehensive analysis assesses the factors that influence corporate site selection, as well as the initiatives states undertake to attract businesses. The rankings are an excellent tool to help private-sector leaders and policymakers alike cut through the noise to find what really drives sustainable long-term economic growth.
For this year’s study, CNBC ranked all 50 states according to a rigorous methodology that includes a comprehensive 135 metrics. By focusing on these ten end-result categories of competitiveness, we can more clearly assess how competitive each state’s business environment really is. Under the program, states can receive up to 2,500 points, with higher scoring states representing a better overall climate for business investment.
What hasn’t changed is the core of the study itself. In particular, it shines a light on the most important factors companies look at when determining where to locate new operations. This goes beyond things like workforce quality, infrastructure, and health of the economy. One similarity is the 2025 rankings are launching several new metrics to address more advanced challenges. These are just risks from a possible trade war and a growing impact from a narrowing federal budget.
These new metrics better reflect our country’s new economic reality and would give a clearer picture of state vulnerabilities. This is where CNBC includes the subjectivity and art into their scoring. This method ensures that their respective rankings are always applicable and informative, regardless of how national and/or global economic conditions may change.
The methodology used to determine America’s Top States for Business is publicly accessible on CNBC’s website, allowing stakeholders to explore the factors influencing state rankings. This transparency builds both community trust in the study’s findings and motivates states to become more competitive.