Ohio Claims Top Spot as America's Best State for Business
Columbus, Thursday, 9 July 2026.
Reflecting a major shift to the Midwest, Ohio surged from 30th in 2007 to rank first in 2026, propelled by its top-rated infrastructure and competitive business costs.
A Historic Milestone for the Buckeye State
Ohio has clinched the top spot for the first time in the 20-year history of CNBC’s annual competitiveness study [1][2]. The Buckeye State scored 1,623 out of 2,500 possible points, securing 64.92% of the total available points in the comprehensive evaluation [1]. This historic achievement caps off a dramatic, multi-year climb from a 30th-place finish in 2007 to achieving top-five status in July 2025, and ultimately reaching the pinnacle of the rankings today on July 9, 2026 [1].
Infrastructure and Cost Advantages Drive Success
A pivotal factor in Ohio’s victory is CNBC’s 2026 methodology, which adjusted to make Infrastructure the most heavily weighted category, accounting for 17.6% of the total score, or 440 points [2]. Companies are increasingly prioritizing strategic locations near major transport hubs, reliable utilities, and abundant energy to support advanced manufacturing and data centers [2]. Ohio capitalizes on this demand by ranking No. 1 in Infrastructure, outperforming Virginia, which finished second in the category [1]. The state’s geographical advantage places more than 143 million people within a single day’s drive [1].
Overcoming Human Capital Challenges
Despite its dominance in infrastructure and cost efficiency, Ohio continues to face headwinds in human capital, ranking 35th in Workforce and 23rd in Education [1]. To address this skills gap, JobsOhio launched an ongoing $300 million, 10-year investment initiative in June 2026 [1]. This program is designed to train highly skilled workers to fill a projected demand for 540,000 STEM-related jobs [1]. Governor DeWine emphasized the practical nature of this initiative, stating that it is “aimed at getting people prepared for real jobs in the real world” [1].