North Carolina Slips to No. 2 in CNBC Business Ranking as Infrastructure Weighs on 2026 Score
Updated
Updated · Port City Daily · Jul 9
North Carolina Slips to No. 2 in CNBC Business Ranking as Infrastructure Weighs on 2026 Score
3 articles · Updated · Port City Daily · Jul 9
Summary
CNBC dropped North Carolina from first to second in its 2026 Top State for Business ranking after the state lost ground in several categories, including infrastructure, quality of life, education and cost of living.
Infrastructure carried the heaviest weight in CNBC’s 138-metric study this year, and North Carolina ranked just 13th there with 254 of 440 points; the outlet also added ease of permitting for the first time.
North Carolina still posted strong showings in the economy, where it ranked first, and workforce, where it ranked third, while placing fifth in access to capital and eighth in technology and innovation.
Governor Josh Stein said the state has stayed in CNBC’s top two for five straight years and pointed to more than 33,000 jobs secured in 2025 as evidence of momentum.
Stein tied weaker scores in housing, child care, health care, utilities and other living costs to policy gaps, saying more than 1,000 days without a state budget had consequences for competitiveness.