CNBC just released their 2022 List of The Best States For Business and North Carolina came in at number one! Over the years we have been a staple in the top 10 and even finished 2nd last year. This year however North Carolina was able to take the business crown. It’s a bright spot in what has been a challenging year for many people with rising inflation. How did CNBC determine this list?
According to the list:
To rank America’s Top States for Business in 2022, CNBC scored all 50 states on 88 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. Each category is weighted based on how frequently states use them as a selling point in economic development marketing materials. That way, our study ranks the states based on the attributes they use to sell themselves. We developed our criteria and metrics in consultation with a diverse array of business and policy experts, and the states. Our study is not an opinion survey. We use data from a variety of sources to measure the states’ performance. Under our methodology, states can earn a maximum of 2,500 points. The states with the most are America’s Top States for Business.
See the breakdown of North Carolina and read the full 2022 Best States For Business list below:
1. North Carolina
Workforce: 12
Infrastructure: 17
Cost of Doing Business: 26
Economy: 1
Life, Health & Inclusion: 28
Technology & Innovation: 5
2. Washington
Workforce: 4
Infrastructure: 29
Cost of Doing Business: 33
Economy: 3
Life, Health & Inclusion: 6
Technology & Innovation: 2
Panoramic view of Seattle cityscape and Space Needle at sunset, Washington, USA
3. Virginia
Workforce: 11
Infrastructure: 9
Cost of Doing Business: 25
Economy: 20
Life, Health & Inclusion: 13
Technology & Innovation: 17
4. Colorado
Workforce: 1
Infrastructure: 16
Cost of Doing Business: 36
Economy: 11
Life, Health & Inclusion: 12
Technology & Innovation: 9
5. Texas
Workforce: 2
Infrastructure: 14
Cost of Doing Business: 12
Economy: 8
Life, Health & Inclusion: 49
Technology & Innovation: 4
6. Tennessee
Workforce: 15
Infrastructure: 8
Cost of Doing Business: 8
Economy: 2
Life, Health & Inclusion: 42
Technology & Innovation: 28
Nashvile TN skyline with red sunset and birds
7. Nebraska
Workforce: 32
Infrastructure: 22
Cost of Doing Business: 16
Economy: 13
Life, Health & Inclusion: 7
Technology & Innovation: 24
8. Utah
Workforce: 8
Infrastructure: 32
Cost of Doing Business: 17
Economy: 6
Life, Health & Inclusion: 29
Technology & Innovation: 26
9. Minnesota
Workforce: 21
Infrastructure: 4
Cost of Doing Business: 41
Economy: 16
Life, Health & Inclusion: 5
Technology & Innovation: 6
10. Georgia
Workforce: 3
Infrastructure: 11
Cost of Doing Business: 38
Economy: 7
Life, Health & Inclusion: 39
Technology & Innovation: 12
11. Florida
Workforce: 6
Infrastructure: 13
Cost of Doing Business: 30
Economy: 4
Life, Health & Inclusion: 39
Technology & Innovation: 16
12. Iowa
Workforce: 20
Infrastructure: 37
Cost of Doing Business: 19
Economy: 17
Life, Health & Inclusion: 10
Technology & Innovation: 18
13. North Dakota
Workforce: 31
Infrastructure: 21
Cost of Doing Business: 21
Economy: 37
Life, Health & Inclusion: 4
Technology & Innovation: 35
14. Indiana
Workforce: 48
Infrastructure: 1
Cost of Doing Business: 2
Economy: 10
Life, Health & Inclusion: 43
Technology & Innovation: 23
Aerial view over the downtown city skyline of Fort Wayne Indiana USA
15. Ohio
Workforce: 41
Infrastructure: 2
Cost of Doing Business: 4
Economy: 27
Life, Health & Inclusion: 29
Technology & Innovation: 11
16. Michigan
Workforce: 26
Infrastructure: 19
Cost of Doing Business: 9
Economy: 21
Life, Health & Inclusion: 29
Technology & Innovation: 15
17. Pennsylvania
Workforce: 28
Infrastructure: 12
Cost of Doing Business: 22
Economy: 45
Life, Health & Inclusion: 22
Technology & Innovation: 7
Spring in Pittsburgh city, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh skyline with cherry blossoms.
18. Oregon
Workforce: 9
Infrastructure: 33
Cost of Doing Business: 34
Economy: 15
Life, Health & Inclusion: 8
Technology & Innovation: 13
19. Illinois
Workforce: 9
Infrastructure: 33
Cost of Doing Business: 34
Economy: 15
Life, Health & Inclusion: 8
Technology & Innovation: 13
20. Idaho
Workforce: 40
Infrastructure: 42
Cost of Doing Business: 15
Economy: 5
Life, Health & Inclusion: 20
Technology & Innovation: 34
21. Kansas
Workforce: 35
Infrastructure: 6
Cost of Doing Business: 6
Economy: 43
Life, Health & Inclusion: 29
Technology & Innovation: 38
22. South Dakota
Workforce: 43
Infrastructure: 36
Cost of Doing Business: 11
Economy: 12
Life, Health & Inclusion: 27
Technology & Innovation: 36
23. Wisconsin
Workforce: 37
Infrastructure: 15
Cost of Doing Business: 13
Economy: 30
Life, Health & Inclusion: 35
Technology & Innovation: 19
24. Massachusetts
Workforce: 24
Infrastructure: 31
Cost of Doing Business: 49
Economy: 26
Life, Health & Inclusion: 13
Technology & Innovation: 10
25. Missouri
Workforce: 49
Infrastructure: 10
Cost of Doing Business: 1
Economy: 17
Life, Health & Inclusion: 46
Technology & Innovation: 19
St. Louis downtown city skyline at twilight.
26. Kentucky
Workforce: 17
Infrastructure: 18
Cost of Doing Business: 6
Economy: 34
Life, Health & Inclusion: 36
Technology & Innovation: 22
27. Maryland
Workforce: 10
Infrastructure: 22
Cost of Doing Business: 44
Economy: 31
Life, Health & Inclusion: 18
Technology & Innovation: 14
28. Delaware
Workforce: 5
Infrastructure: 20
Cost of Doing Business: 37
Economy: 22
Life, Health & Inclusion: 24
Technology & Innovation: 32
29. California
Workforce: 16
Infrastructure: 25
Cost of Doing Business: 48
Economy: 17
Life, Health & Inclusion: 26
Technology & Innovation: 1
Spring morning light hits the tree filled hillside in front of the Los Angeles skyline in Southern California
30. Montana
Workforce: 33
Infrastructure: 45
Cost of Doing Business: 27
Economy: 9
Life, Health & Inclusion: 24
Technology & Innovation: 46
31. Vermont
Workforce: 50
Infrastructure: 22
Cost of Doing Business: 39
Economy: 33
Life, Health & Inclusion: 1
Technology & Innovation: 37
32. Wyoming
Workforce: 18
Infrastructure: 35
Cost of Doing Business: 23
Economy: 40
Life, Health & Inclusion: 20
Technology & Innovation: 40
33. Alabama
Workforce: 13
Infrastructure: 38
Cost of Doing Business: 24
Economy: 27
Life, Health & Inclusion: 38
Technology & Innovation: 21
34. Arizona
Workforce: 7
Infrastructure: 6
Cost of Doing Business: 35
Economy: 22
Life, Health & Inclusion: 50
Technology & Innovation: 29
35. New Hampshire
Workforce: 22
Infrastructure: 47
Cost of Doing Business: 32
Economy: 29
Life, Health & Inclusion: 15
Technology & Innovation: 39
36. New York
Workforce: 46
Infrastructure: 28
Cost of Doing Business: 42
Economy: 36
Life, Health & Inclusion: 19
Technology & Innovation: 2
36. South Carolina
Workforce: 29
Infrastructure: 27
Cost of Doing Business: 28
Economy: 13
Life, Health & Inclusion: 47
Technology & Innovation: 31
38. Oklahoma
Workforce: 35
Infrastructure: 26
Cost of Doing Business: 2
Economy: 34
Life, Health & Inclusion: 48
Technology & Innovation: 30
39. Connecticut
Workforce: 14
Infrastructure: 39
Cost of Doing Business: 45
Economy: 47
Life, Health & Inclusion: 17
Technology & Innovation: 25
49. Nevada
Workforce: 29
Infrastructure: 5
Cost of Doing Business: 20
Economy: 25
Life, Health & Inclusion: 41
Technology & Innovation: 47
Aerial view of Las Vegas strip in Nevada as seen at night USA
41. Arkansas
Workforce: 38
Infrastructure: 30
Cost of Doing Business: 13
Economy: 24
Life, Health & Inclusion: 37
Technology & Innovation: 40
42. New Jersey
Workforce: 23
Infrastructure: 34
Cost of Doing Business: 43
Economy: 50
Life, Health & Inclusion: 8
Technology & Innovation: 27
Newark, New Jersey, USA skyline on the Passaic River.
43. Maine
Workforce: 43
Infrastructure: 49
Cost of Doing Business: 40
Economy: 32
Life, Health & Inclusion: 2
Technology & Innovation: 44
44. West Virginia
Workforce: 43
Infrastructure: 42
Cost of Doing Business: 10
Economy: 39
Life, Health & Inclusion: 34
Technology & Innovation: 49
45. Rhode Island
Workforce: 39
Infrastructure: 44
Cost of Doing Business: 47
Economy: 41
Life, Health & Inclusion: 16
Technology & Innovation: 33
46. New Mexico
Workforce: 25
Infrastructure: 39
Cost of Doing Business: 29
Economy: 42
Life, Health & Inclusion: 44
Technology & Innovation: 43
Hot air balloons drifting over the Rio Grande river in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
46. Hawaii
Workforce: 19
Infrastructure: 39
Cost of Doing Business: 50
Economy: 48
Life, Health & Inclusion: 3
Technology & Innovation: 40
48. Louisiana
Workforce: 42
Infrastructure: 48
Cost of Doing Business: 5
Economy: 45
Life, Health & Inclusion: 45
Technology & Innovation: 45
Bourbon St, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA cityscape of bars and retaurants at twilight.
49. Alaska
Workforce: 34
Infrastructure: 50
Cost of Doing Business: 46
Economy: 38
Life, Health & Inclusion: 11
Technology & Innovation: 50
50. Mississippi
Workforce: 47
Infrastructure: 46
Cost of Doing Business: 17
Economy: 49
Life, Health & Inclusion: 33
Technology & Innovation: 48
