State of the States 2026

We’ve opened legislative documents. We’ve scrolled through pages of gubernatorial newsrooms. We’ve searched summaries of legislative sessions in capital cities from Bismarck to Tallahassee, all in order to present Site Selection’s annual State of the States report.

This report was compiled, edited and designed by Mark Arend, Kelly Barraza, Adam Bruns, Alexis Elmore, Ron Starner, Karen Medernach, Daniel Boyer, McKenzie Wright, Brian Espinoza and Richard Nenoff.

In the following pages, you’ll find demographic, GDP and credit rating insights, legislative and policy updates, agency information, governor quotes and, in some cases, “Project Watch” spotlights* that shed light on the economies, workforce and business climates of all 50 states. You’ll also find our “Rankings that Matter,” which include each state’s rank in the following economic development yardsticks:

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