News Summary

Texas has secured the second spot in CNBC’s latest analysis of the Top States for Business, just behind North Carolina. Achieving a score of 1,601 points, Texas outshines states like Florida and Virginia, but faces challenges in infrastructure and quality of life. Despite these hurdles, Texas remains a strong contender in the business landscape, boasting a robust economy and a large workforce. The state looks to improve its rankings by addressing quality of life metrics while continuing to drive job growth in the future.

Texas Comes In Strong at Second Place in CNBC’s Business Rankings!

Big news for the Lone Star State! Texas has been officially ranked second in the latest analysis of the *Top States for Business* for 2025. This recognizes Texas as a prime spot for commerce, right behind North Carolina, which snagged the top honor with an impressive score of 1,614 points. But Texas didn’t lag far behind, achieving a commendable score of 1,601 points. Not too shabby, right?

Ranking Breakdown: Texas vs. The Competition

When comparing Texas to other contenders, it’s pretty clear that it stands tall. The state has emerged ahead of Florida, Virginia, and Ohio, which rounded out the top five. Texas Governor has promoted the state as the best place for businesses, and these rankings might just back that claim up! CNBC’s methodology looks at a combination of ten weighted categories, together accounting for a grand total of 2,500 points. Dive into the specifics a little further, and you’ll find categories such as *education, workforce, technology, economy, infrastructure,* and *quality of life*, all play a crucial role in determining the rankings.

Where Texas Shines and Where It Could Improve

In areas where Texas truly excels, you’ll find the *economy, workforce,* and *technology* categories. The state earned A+ ratings in these sectors! Imagine a workforce of about 15.8 million people—that’s the powerhouse behind Texas’s strong economy. But it’s not all sunshine and blue skies. The state received a C+ for its infrastructure and stumbled a bit in the cost of living arena. Also, when it comes to *quality of life*, Texas scored a mere 72 points, leading to an unfortunate F rating, while North Carolina flourished with a score of 136 in this category.

What exactly goes into that quality of life score? It covers a range of important factors like *per capita crime rates, environmental quality, healthcare, childcare, worker protections,* and even protections against discrimination. The numbers speak volumes, showing the need for improvements in these areas if Texas wants to climb even higher in future rankings.

The Bigger Picture: Job Growth and Economic Strength

Despite some hiccups, Texas is still a force to be reckoned with. The state is currently contending with a 4.1% unemployment rate, which is just a touch below the national average of 4%. Even so, Texas has consistently ranked among the top six states for business since 2007, even seizing the top spot a few years ago in 2018. Can you believe it?

North Carolina’s recent economic advancements, highlighted by major projects like a new factory employing 14,500 individuals and a massive $10 billion Amazon data center expansion, definitely caught the eyes of business leaders. Incidents like these draw attention to how states can attract talent by highlighting quality of life metrics. Texas is surely aiming for a piece of that action!

External Commendations and Ongoing Progress

External rankings have also recognized Texas’s business climate. For instance, *Site Selection magazine* dubbed Texas as having the *Top State Business Climate* for 2024. How’s that for some solid proof? Yet, even with all the accolades, Houston did receive notice for another reason—ranking 34th for the best large cities to start a business in 2025, as reported by another source.

The Road Ahead

With the bustling Dallas-Fort Worth region driving job growth and a favorable economic environment, Texas still has a promising trajectory ahead. Moving forward, focusing on improving the quality of life could also be essential for Texas to maintain its high standing in the competitive race for business growth.

So there you have it! Texas might have come in at second place this time, but with its tenacious spirit and thriving workforce, it remains a key player in the ever-evolving business landscape. Keep your eyes on Texas as it continues to develop and strive for excellence!

Texas Ranks Second in CNBC’s Business Rankings