Ohio has made a historic leap into the national spotlight, landing at #5 in CNBC’s 2025 America’s Top States for Business rankings. This marks the Buckeye State’s first time in the top five. The study, which evaluates all 50 states across ten key categories, praised Ohio for its infrastructure, affordability, and innovation-driven economy.
Still, the report identified one pressing issue that continues to challenge the state’s rise: a shortage of skilled workers.
Best Infrastructure, Low Costs Boost Ohio’s Business Reputation
Ohio’s climb into the top tier of CNBC’s business rankings reflects a broader shift in how companies view the state’s economic fundamentals. From transportation and broadband access to site-ready industrial parks, Ohio earned the #1 ranking for infrastructure in the country. It also ranked #2 in cost of doing business, #6 in technology and innovation, and #7 in both cost of living and access to capital.
“The Buckeye State makes our top five for the first time, with America’s best infrastructure and the second-lowest cost of doing business,” the CNBC report said.
Combined with strategic investments by companies like Intel, Amazon Web Services, and Honda, the rankings signal a growing confidence in Ohio’s long-term competitiveness. The state’s central location and logistics capabilities also remain strong advantages as businesses rethink their supply chains and workforce needs in a post-pandemic economy.
The One Factor Holding Ohio Back
Despite its impressive gains, Ohio ranked just 31st in the workforce category, one of the lowest among top-performing states. CNBC pointed to a lack of skilled workers entering the state as a major factor dragging down the score.
This talent gap threatens to undermine the very momentum Ohio has built through infrastructure, affordability, and access to capital. While the state has become more attractive to investors and corporations, the supply of workers, particularly in fields like advanced manufacturing, software development, and engineering, has not kept pace with demand.
Can Ohio Attract the Skilled Workforce It Needs to Compete?
Fixing Ohio’s workforce gap isn’t just about posting more job openings. It’s going to take real effort to keep young talent in the state, help experienced workers learn new skills, and make Ohio a place people want to move to for opportunity. If the talent pool doesn’t grow, Ohio could have a tough time keeping up, especially as other states double down on training, education, and talent attraction.
Ohio has around 39,000 STEM degree completions per year and is on track to increase that number by another 47,500 over the next decade, which is an encouraging signal for the state’s long-term workforce strength.
The CNBC ranking is a major milestone. It also serves as a reminder that long-term business success requires not just infrastructure and innovation, but people ready to power it forward.
