Here’s where MS ranks among worst states for business in 2026. Did it get better from last year?
Mississippi’s business ranking has improved in 2026 compared with last year — but it still ranks among America’s 10 worst states for business, according to a July 9 ranking by news outlet CNBC.
CNBC’s annual ranking scores all 50 states across in 10 categories of competitiveness to find which states are the best and worst for business.
The Magnolia State is the eighth-worst state in the country for business in 2026, according to the ranking. Here’s what to know.
How did MS rank across each category?
Here’s how Mississippi ranked across each of the 10 categories, according to the CNBC ranking:
- Infrastructure: 34
- Economy: 36
- Workforce: 48
- Quality of life: 26
- Cost of doing business: 13
- Technology and innovation: 43
- Business friendliness: 36
- Access to capital: 35
- Education: 41
- Cost of living: 11
How did MS 2026 ranking change from a year ago?
Mississippi’s ranking improved by two places in 2026 compared with 2025, CNBC rankings showed.
In 2025, Mississippi ranked 6th-worst state in the country for business, falling after Louisiana, Rhode Island, Montana, Hawaii and Alaska, which was the worst state for business in 2025.
What are the worst states for business in 2026?
These are the 10 worst states in the country for business, according to the CNBC ranking:
1. Hawaii (worst state for business)
2. Alaska
3. Rhode Island
4. Louisiana
5. West Virginia
6. Montana
7. South Dakota
8. Mississippi
9. Oregon
10. New Mexico
What are the top states for business in 2026?
These are the 10 best states in the country for business, according to the CNBC ranking:
1. Ohio (best state for business)
2. North Carolina
3. Virginia
4. Texas
5. Minnesota
6. Michigan
7. Georgia
8. Florida
9. Tennessee
10. Indiana
How did CNBC score states?
Analysts at CNBC scored all 50 states on 138 metrics across 10 categories, according to the study. Each state can earn a maximum score of 2,5000 points, and the states with the most points become the top states for business.
