ICYMI: Michigan Earns Highest Ever Rank in CNBC's Top 10 States for Business

State ranked #6, top 10 for the third year in a row, up 3 spots from last year, driven by huge gains in infrastructure, workforce, quality of life, and cost of doing business 

LANSING, MI - On July 10, 2025, Governor Gretchen Whitmer celebrated Michigan’s No. 6 rank, its highest ever, in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business list. Michigan cracked the top 10 for just the fourth time since the list was launched in 2007, with two of the previous three coming in the past two years, under Governor Whitmer’s leadership. For the third year in the row, the state climbed the list, thanks to huge gains in the Michigan economy, quality of life, infrastructure, cost of doing business, and workforce.  

“Michigan is on the move, and I am so proud that we just reached our highest ever rank in CNBC’s list as a top ten state for doing business,” said Governor Whitmer. “We’re on the rise because all across the state, we’re bringing people together to create jobs, bring advanced manufacturing home, lower the cost of job training, and fix our damn roads. This national recognition is yet another sign that we’re making progress, and to keep our momentum going strong, we will keep a close eye on any impact that uncertainty caused by national tariffs and federal budgets could have on our state’s economy. Here in Michigan, we will continue rolling up our sleeves and getting things done.”  

All-Time High Ranking 

Michigan was in the top 10 for the third year in a row. The state was ranked #9 in 2024 and #10 in 2023. Previously, the highest rank Michigan had ever achieved was #7 in 2016. Three of the four times the state has been ranked in the top 10 have occurred under Governor Whitmer’s leadership.  

Data Driven Performance as a Top 10 State for Business 

CNBC lists several criteria to determine a state’s ranking, factoring in data from a variety of sources to measure a states’ performance. Michigan comes in at 6th overall, improving its position in several sub-categories: 

• 4 for cost of doing business, up EIGHT spots from last year. 

• Cut red tape to help businesses build and expand in Michigan faster, cut taxes for small businesses and set up programs to help them develop their workforce.

• 13 for workforce, up FIVE spots from last year.

• Established Michigan Reconnect, Michigan Achievement Scholarship, and the Community College Guarantee, putting 250,000+ Michiganders on path to higher education and skills training while saving thousands of dollars.

• 14 for quality of life, up TEN spots from last year. 

• Cut taxes for retirees and working families, made largest ever investments to build housing and revitalize downtowns, expanded free pre-K, started feeding all public-school students free breakfast and lunch in school.

• 15 for infrastructure, up NINE spots from last year. 

• On track this year to fix, repair, or replace 24,500 lane miles of road and 1,900 bridges since Governor Whitmer took office.

• 18 for economy, up TWENTY spots from last year. 

• Brought home tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in autos, auto parts, semiconductors, clean energy, and so much more.