Special to IFN
RALEIGH — Site Selection magazine has ranked North Carolina the Top State for Workforce Development for 2026.
Gov. Josh Stein celebrated this ranking on Tuesday during a visit to Machine Specialties Inc. (MSI) in Whitsett, where he highlighted the state’s workforce investments and the recent recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships.
“North Carolina’s strength is our people,” Stein said. “They power our economy. North Carolina is already the top state for business; now we are the top state for workforce. In 2025, North Carolina had our best year of job announcements ever. We must continue to invest in our people and expand pathways that prepare more people for the career opportunities being built here. With strategic leadership from my Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, North Carolina will not be outworked when it comes to workforce development.”
Last year, North Carolina was ranked “America’s Top State for Business.” North Carolina has now earned another top spot among all states, this time for the state’s investment in strengthening its talented workforce. The economic development magazine ranked states using a methodology that incorporates data on factors such as the percentage of the workforce holding credentials and degrees, as well as labor productivity. North Carolina came in first, followed by Utah and Illinois.
“North Carolina’s talented people give us our competitive edge, and our workforce system is increasingly aligned with economic development to meet the needs of growing, innovative businesses,” added N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley, who is also a co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships. “The Department of Commerce, NCWorks Career Centers, local workforce boards, universities, community colleges, K-12 schools, and industry partners have strong relationships that promote skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow, helping people succeed in every corner of North Carolina.”
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The Site Selection workforce rankings can be reviewed at https://siteselection.com/2026-workforce-development-rankings-bright-horizons/.