New Jersey Slips to 31st in CNBC Business Rankings

July 9, 2026 | njbiz.com

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.

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NJ SEED: NJ ranks in the bottom half for business attractiveness in the annual CNBC survey, ranking “….. 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. There are, however, some bright spots. The state ranked “second nationally for education and third for quality of life.”