New Jersey Slips to 31st in CNBC Business Rankings
The basics:
- New Jersey falls one spot to 31st in CNBC‘s 2026 rankings
- State ranks last nationwide for business friendliness
- Education ranks 2nd, quality of life ranks 3rd
- Business groups urge reforms to improve competitiveness
New Jersey slipped one spot to 31st in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, placing the Garden State in the bottom half of the nation.
The annual study, now in its 20th year, evaluates all 50 states using 138 metrics across 10 categories that companies consider when deciding where to locate or expand, including infrastructure, economy, workforce, education, business friendliness, the cost of doing business and more. CNBC said infrastructure became the most heavily weighted category this year as companies increasingly prioritize transportation access, utilities, energy availability and permitting when they select locations for investment.
Ohio claimed the top spot in this year’s rankings, followed by North Carolina, Virginia, Texas and Minnesota. As for the Garden State’s neighbors, Pennsylvania ranked 13th, New York finished 18th and Connecticut came in at 23rd — all well ahead of New Jersey.
Several business-related categories weighed down the Garden State’s overall ranking. CNBC ranked N.J. last in the nation for business friendliness, as well as 41st for infrastructure, 39th for cost of living, 38th for cost of doing business and 31st for economy.
The Garden State fared much better in several other categories, ranking second nationally for education and third for quality of life. New Jersey also placed 13th for access to capital, 19th for workforce, and 20th for technology and innovation.
Overall, the state scored 1,264 points, down from its 30th place last year.
Here’s how New Jersey ranked in each category, with 2026 scores and grades:
- Infrastructure – 41st down from 21st | Score: 186 Grade: D
- Economy – 31st unchanged | Score: 204 Grade: C-
- Workforce – 19th down from 14th | Score: 193 Grade: C
- Quality of life – 3rd unchanged | Score: 223 Grade: A+
- Cost of doing business – 38th unchanged | Score: 108 Grade: D+
- Technology & innovation – 20th down from 16th | Score: 140 Grade: B-
- Business friendliness – 50th down from 49th | Score: 37; Grade: F
- Access to capital – 13th down from 11th | Score: 79 Grade: B+
- Education – 2nd up from 7th | Score: 76 Grade: A
- Cost of living – 39th down from 37th | Score: 18 Grade: D+