It is Virginia’s fourth time as the top-ranked state, along with 2007, 2009 and 2011.

CNBC cited Virginia as having the nation’s best workforce, including the fourth-highest concentration of science, technology, education and math workers, as well as “strong school test scores, small class sizes and a wealth of colleges and universities make Virginia’s education system the best in the nation.”

CNBC also took into consideration Virginia Tech’s plans to build a new campus adjacent to Amazon’s second-headquarters campus.

Cottage industry

Business-climate rankings have evolved over the past 12 years into a cottage industry that states and often politicians use to spotlight their marketplaces and puff out their chests as proof of their economic prowess.

North Carolina’s Republican legislative leaders often cite the state’s high ranking with Anderson Economic Group, Chief Executive magazine, Forbes magazine, CNBC, George Mason University, FitSmall Business.com, Site Selection magazine’s Prosperity Cup, the Tax Foundation and U.S. News & World Report as proof of their hard economic work, particularly with tax reform.