For media inquiries, please contact Ben Picotte at [email protected]
DENVER – Colorado fell from No. 11 to No. 25 in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, its lowest position since the report launched in 2007. The decline emphasizes the need for collaboration between policymakers and the business community to address the rising costs, regulatory burdens and housing challenges making it increasingly difficult for employers to invest, grow and create jobs in the state.
“Colorado’s drop in the rankings reinforces what the Chamber’s strategic research has already shown,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “Regulatory burdens, housing, rising costs and workforce needs remain key issues affecting the state’s competitiveness. The Chamber has made significant progress on regulatory reform and workforce development by advancing priority bipartisan legislation, and we look forward to continuing this work and building on our progress to improve affordability and strengthen Colorado’s long-term competitiveness.”
Colorado’s rankings dropped in eight categories since 2025. The most significant decline came in infrastructure, which fell 21 spots to No. 32. Lower rankings in economy and business friendliness point to broader challenges in attracting investment and supporting job growth. Colorado’s No. 49 ranking in cost of living reflects the statewide affordability and housing pressures faced by employers and workers alike. Technology and innovation remained a strength for the state, rising to No. 6.
“For the past two years, the Colorado Chamber Foundation has worked proactively to improve Colorado’s business climate and economy through our 10-year strategic action plan, Vision 2033,” said Colorado Chamber Foundation Executive Director Rachel Beck. “Partnering with businesses, elected officials and other nonprofits, we’ve already made progress by strengthening workforce pipelines and improving our state’s regulatory climate. Colorado has always had a culture of collaboration and a roll-up-our-sleeves-and-get-to-work ethos. We’re confident that if we put that ethos to work addressing the challenges that led to our drop in the rankings, we can return our state to a place where businesses thrive.”
The Colorado Chamber will continue to address the challenges identified in the rankings by advancing practical, research-driven policies that reduce barriers for employers and improve affordability for Coloradans.
Learn more about the Chamber’s progress on business issues during the 2026 legislative session here.
View Colorado’s 2026 CNBC Business Friendliness rankings here.
###
The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.