Iowa Drops 10 Spots in CNBC’s Business Rankings in One Year

DES MOINES, IA – Today, CNBC released its annual “Top States for Business” report for 2025, with more bad news for Iowa. Iowa dropped 14 spots in their “business friendliness” ranking specifically, while Iowa’s economic ranking fell from 33rd to 39th, and workforce ranking from 27th to 41st.

According to the report, Iowa ranks only the 24th best state for business in the country, down 10 full spots from last year, which Gov. Kim Reynolds bragged about at the time, and 15 spots since 2016 – before full Republican control of the state.

This report is just the latest in a series of bad rankings and outlooks Iowa has received recently. Just days ago, a new report by the Trump administration’s Bureau of Economic Analysis found that Iowa’s real gross domestic product shrank at the worst rate in the nation in the first quarter, declining by 6.1 percent. The Trump administration also found that Iowa has the second-worst economy in the nation, ranked 49th, and 48th for personal income growth. Iowa’s once first-class public school system is now middle of the pack, and Iowa is ranked number one for cancer growth in the nation.

“For the last ten years, powerful insiders in Des Moines and one-party rule have failed our state in nearly every way – our economy, workforce, education system, and growing cancer rates. We’re winning contests we want to be losing, and losing ones we want to be winning,” said candidate for governor Rob Sand. “The last ten years has proven what happens when we elect politicians who serve powerful insiders instead of public servants who serve Iowans. We can’t keep going down this path. It’s time for change.”