RALEIGH — Business network CNBC has named North Carolina as their top state for business in 2023. The annual rankings score all 50 states in 10 separate categories.
North Carolina topped its top score from 2022. NC ranked as the top workforce state, the most important category in this year’s study, also boasting the third-best economy with solid growth, stable state finances and a healthy housing market.
“Companies in desperate need of skilled workers are going where the people are, and people are going to North Carolina,” CNBC special corresponded Scott Cohn said. “The state’s well-balanced economy is handling the growth well. Rising political tensions could create issues down the road, but for now, North Carolina seems to have the winning formula—for the second year in a row.”
Gov. Roy Cooper joined CNBC’s Scott Cohn at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville for the announcement.
“When we invest in our people, we invest in the foundation of our success,” said Cooper. “Thanks to our well-trained, dedicated and diverse workforce, North Carolina has been named the top state for business for the second year in a row and it’s important for us to invest in the education and well-being of our people to continue our amazing success.”
The top five states were North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Minnesota.
This is only the second time in the ranking’s history that a state has received the top spot two years in a row. Since 2017, North Carolina has placed in the top five of state rankings four times.
Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Eden) also weighed in, citing the Republican legislature’s work to improve the state’s business climate.
“We should all celebrate that North Carolina’s business climate continues to be the best in the nation, notwithstanding the governor’s obstructionism and vetoes of business-friendly legislation. His actions have done nothing to slow our momentum,” Berger said.
Earlier this year, North Carolina also won Site Selection Magazine’s Prosperity Cup for the third year in a row. North Carolina also won Area Development magazine’s 2023 Platinum Shovel Award which recognizes states that went above and beyond the gold standard for investment and job creation and received Business Facilities magazine’s State of the Year award after a historic year of economic development and job growth.
