Stein celebrates North Carolina’s top economy ranking, calls for action on cost of living

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina continues to rank among the top states in the nation for business, placing No. 2 overall in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings.

The ranking marks the fifth consecutive year North Carolina has finished among the top two states for business, according to Governor Josh Stein’s office.

In this year’s rankings, North Carolina was named:

• No. 1 state for the economy
• No. 2 state for business
• No. 3 state for workforce

Governor Stein highlighted the state’s economic growth and job creation efforts, pointing to a record number of jobs announced in 2025.

“North Carolina’s got a good thing going,” Stein said. “This is the fifth straight year that North Carolina has ranked in the Top 2 states for business. This year, we’re the #1 state for the economy, the #2 state for business, and the #3 state for workforce.”

Stein said the rankings also show the importance of continued investment in infrastructure, quality of life, and affordability as the state continues to grow.

“Other states want what we have, and we’ve got to keep investing to build strong infrastructure, double down on our high quality of life, and make North Carolina more affordable to live, work, and raise a family,” Stein said.

The governor pointed to efforts by his administration to address costs related to housing, child care, health care, and utilities, while calling on lawmakers to support additional investments.

“When a state goes more than 1,000 days without passing a budget, you can’t be surprised to see some consequences,” Stein said. “I am confident that the budget is a launching pad, not our landing place.”

Stein said North Carolina’s continued high ranking reflects the state’s economic momentum and opportunities available across communities.

“North Carolina is growing and thriving, and remaining in the top two is just another reminder of all our state has to offer,” Stein said.

CNBC’s annual rankings evaluate states based on factors important to businesses, including workforce, economy, infrastructure, business environment, and quality of life. The rankings are used to measure states’ ability to attract investment, support companies, and create economic opportunity.