Pennsylvania climbed four spots to No. 13 in CNBC’s annual Americas Top States for Business rankings, according to the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. The state achieved its highest position in 15 years and ranked highest among all Northeast states, the Chamber said.
The Pennsylvania Chamber attributed the improvement to pro-growth reforms including reducing the Corporate Net Income Tax, modernizing Net Operating Loss deductions, improving permitting, investing in workforce development, and strengthening the state’s economic competitiveness.
“Pennsylvania’s rise among the nation’s most competitive states for business is encouraging and shows that pro-growth policies are making our Commonwealth more attractive for investment, jobs, and opportunity,” said PA Chamber President and CEO Luke Bernstein. “We should be proud of this progress, but our goal isn’t to be No. 13 — it’s to be No. 1. This ranking shows what’s possible when policymakers prioritize growth, and if we keep our foot on the gas and continue improving Pennsylvania’s competitiveness, there’s no reason we can’t get there.”
CNBC evaluates states on workforce, infrastructure, technology and innovation, quality of life, business costs, and ease of permitting. Infrastructure became the top-weighted category in 2026 as companies pursue locations close to transport hubs, top utilities, fresh water, and abundant energy for advanced manufacturing and data centers, according to CNBC.
The Pennsylvania Chamber said the improvement follows years of bipartisan efforts to make government more responsive and predictable while improving the state’s overall competitive position.
