Doing Business in the PIA Western Alliance States — CNBC’s 2026 Best States for Business

The 20th annual CNBC report, America’s Top States for Business is out. The network looked at how states do business in 138 metrics and 10 categories. CNBC says how the states do in each of the categories has been fairly consistent since the first study was done in 2007.

The list below for the infrastructure, economy, workforce, etc. is the rank for importance. In other words, the infrastructure ranks 1st, the economy 2nd, workforce 3rd, quality of life 4th, and so on.

A maximum of 2,500 points can be earned. Ohio ranks 1st.

1. Ohio

Infrastructure: 1

Economy: 9

Workforce: 35

Quality of life: 18

Cost of doing business: 1

Technology & innovation: 10

Business friendliness: 16

Access to capital: 9

Education: 23

Cost of living: 9

The rest of the top 10:

2. North Carolina

3. Virginia

4. Texas

5. Minnesota

6. Michigan

7. Georgia

8. Florida

9. Tennessee

10. Indiana

The 10 PIA Western Alliance states.

Washington barely missed the top-10 and ranks 11th. Arizona is 14th and California 17th. Five of the PIA Western Alliance states New Mexico (41), Oregon (42), Montana (45), Alaska (49) and Hawaii (50) rank in the bottom 10 of all states.

The rest of the states are below 25th.

The good news for the PIA Western Alliance states of Washington, Arizona and California is a rank above number 25 so they’re in a better place when it comes to the best states to do business.

The PIA state of Washington has really great numbers until you look at the cost of doing business where it ranks 47th in the country and the rank of 40th for business friendliness. Washington’s economy is 5th and the workforce 6th. Technology and innovation put it 4th in the nation. Access to capital is good, too, at 11th.

And for quality of life, Washington is among the best at 12th.

Number 17, California’s numbers in some areas are terrific, however, it ranks 50th in cost of living and 46th in the cost of doing business. When it comes to business friendliness, California has a sad rank of 47th.

Quality of life is 29th.

Though doing business in California seems to be quite hard, the state’s economy is 3rd best in the country. And for technology and innovation, no one beats California with its number 1 ranking. The state also ranks at the top of the country for access to capital.

Arizona’s 15th rank has good numbers in all categories. The best number it has is a willing and talented workforce (4). It’s business friendly, too (13). Quality of life (36), the cost of doing business (35) and education (49) are the only serious negatives for Arizona.

The PIA Western Alliance state of Idaho sits at number 30. The Gem State’s issues are in its infrastructure (ranks 45th in the country) and in access to capital (40) and education (47).

One positive is a good economy (14) and an excellent, talented workforce (16). Idaho is also quite business friendly sitting in 12th place in the country.

Nevada’s spot is number 33. The big problems this PIA Western Alliance state has is quality of life (39), the cost of doing business (34) and technology and innovation (38).

One positive is Idaho being fairly friendly to business (15) with good access to capital (23).

Five PIA Western Alliances states (New Mexico, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii) are in the bottom 10.

At number 50, the PIA Western Alliance states of Hawaii ranks last. Hawaii sits in last place (50) when it comes to the infrastructure. It has probably taken an even bigger hit with the two hurricanes that battered the islands this year. When it comes to business friendliness, Hawaii is rated 45th and its technology and innovation score is 49th.

Business friendliness isn’t much better with a score that puts 45th in the country.

Alaska is 49th. The state has big problems in infrastructure (49), the economy (44), the workforce (41) and the cost of doing business and technology and innovation both sit at 47.

Access to capital puts Alaska last in the 50 states as is its education system.

Moving down the worst list, the PIA Western Alliance state of Montana ranks 45th in the country. The biggest issue business has in the Treasure State is the infrastructure (48). It’s not real friendly to business (40) and finding capital to fund a business is 46th in the country.

Oregon is number 42. Like Washington to the North, the cost of living is a big problem in the Beaver State. Washington is 40th and Oregon ranks 45th in the country. The economy isn’t that good in Oregon with a 39th ranking. The cost of doing business and business friendliness aren’t very good either.

The state ranks 43rd in the country for both.

The PIA Western Alliance state of New Mexico starts off the 10 worst states ranking at number 41. The worst number it has is technology and innovation where New Mexico ranks 40th. Ranked number 35, the state isn’t terribly friendly for business either.

The rest of New Mexico’s numbers are in the high 20s to high 30s.

Here are the totals for the 10 PIA Western Alliance states:

11. Washington

Infrastructure: 16

Economy: 5

Workforce: 6

Quality of life: 12

Cost of doing business: 47

Technology & innovation: 4

Business friendliness: 40

Access to capital: 11

Education: 37

Cost of living: 41

14. Arizona

Infrastructure: 8

Economy: 22

Workforce: 4

Quality of life: 36

Cost of doing business: 35

Technology & innovation: 25

Business friendliness: 13

Access to capital: 18

Education: 43

Cost of living: 33

17. California

Infrastructure: 26

Economy: 3

Workforce: 17

Quality of life: 29

Cost of doing business: 46

Technology & innovation: 1

Business friendliness: 47

Access to capital: 1

Education: 20

Cost of living: 50

30. Idaho

Infrastructure: 45

Economy: 14

Workforce: 16

Quality of life: 28

Cost of doing business: 28

Technology & innovation: 34

Business friendliness: 12

Access to capital: 40

Education: 47

Cost of living: 22

33. Nevada

Infrastructure: 20

Economy: 19

Workforce: 22

Quality of life: 39

Cost of doing business:34

Technology & innovation: 38

Business friendliness: 15

Access to capital: 23

Education: 49

Cost of living: 37

41. New Mexico

Infrastructure: 29

Economy: 33

Workforce: 20

Quality of life: 32

Cost of doing business: 29

Technology & innovation: 40

Business friendliness: 35

Access to capital: 37

Education: 32

Cost of living: 33

42. Oregon

Infrastructure: 17

Economy: 39

Workforce: 24

Quality of life: 22

Cost of doing business: 43

Technology & innovation: 18

Business friendliness: 43

Access to capital: 27

Education: 34

Cost of living: 45

45. Montana

Infrastructure: 48

Economy: 18

Workforce: 36

Quality of life: 35

Cost of doing business: 33

Technology & innovation: 35

Business friendliness: 40

Access to capital: 46

Education: 18

Cost of living: 30

49. Alaska

Infrastructure: 49

Economy: 44

Workforce: 41

Quality of life: 26

Cost of doing business: 47

Technology & innovation: 47

Business friendliness: 20

Access to capital: 50

Education: 50

Cost of living: 22

50. Hawaii

Infrastructure: 50

Economy: 24

Workforce: 43

Quality of life: 6

Cost of doing business: 50

Technology & innovation: 49

Business friendliness: 45

Access to capital: 44

Education: 34

Cost of living: 47

Source link: CNBC — https://bit.ly/4j73qQB