Less than a year into Youngkin’s tenure, the Commonwealth has fallen from its #1 position in CNBC’s annual “America’s Top States for Business” ranking

RICHMOND, VA – Virginia has been toppled from its record-setting run atop CNBC’s list of the best states for business, the business news channel announced Wednesday. Under the leadership of former Governor Ralph Northam, Virginia won the #1 spot in unprecedented back-to-back victories, before falling to third place six months after Governor Glenn Youngkin’s inauguration.

Virginia’s scores fell most dramatically from 2021 in the categories of Workforce (B+), Economy (C+), and Life, Health & Inclusion (C+). Virginia Business noted that migration to the Commonwealth has slowed and community college enrollment – a key pipeline for specialized workers – has fallen significantly, while Governor Youngkin has publicly criticized the Virginia Community College System and cut $20 million from his predecessor’s G3 tuition assistance and workforce development initiative.

 “Under a Democratic trifecta, Virginia held on to its #1 ranking while pulling the Commonwealth up 27 spots in Oxfam’s report on the best states for workers,” said House Democratic Leader Don Scott. “Governor Youngkin’s focus on culture-war issues makes it more difficult for Virginia to attract businesses and create jobs. Governor Youngkin needs to spend less time catering to presidential primary voters and more time working with members from both sides of the aisle. He doesn’t have to look farther than our neighbors in North Carolina, where they worked together despite having a divided state government to surpass Virginia as the number one state for business. Virginia House Democrats stand ready to work with Governor Youngkin to take back our place as the country’s number one state for business.”