CNBC ranks Florida #1 for economy, one of the worst for living and working, cites ‘inclusion’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – CNBC released their state rankings for 2023, placing Florida as the best state in the economy rankings but near the worst in living and working.
Florida ranking number one out of the 50 U.S. states in the economy category would come as no shock to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has long-boasted the economic status of the Sunshine State under his governorship.
“We had our state open, we have low taxes, we have a very strong regulatory climate favorable for businesses. And so, you’ve seen us grow, you’ve seen other red states grow,” DeSantis said in June.
CNBC said their methodology involved 86 metrics in “10 broad categories of competitiveness.”
The broad ranking “Top States for Business 2023” placed Florida at the number eight spot, behind Washington, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and North Carolina, from ranks seven to one.
Florida was ranked 15th for workforce, 14th for infrastructure, 41st for “life, health and inclusion,” 26th for cost of doing business, 20th for technology and innovation, 26th for being business friendly, 36th in education, 16th in access to capital, and 36th in cost of living.
One state DeSantis has frequently compared Florida to – California – ranked 25th overall in “Top States for Business.” New York ranked 20th.
For Florida’s poor ranking on the U.S.’ “worst states to live and work,” CNBC pointed to major weaknesses of the state being “inclusiveness” and “reproductive rights.” The state has increasingly cracked down on abortion along with ending concepts like diversity, equity and inclusion in education, along with enacting rules against certain sex transition operations.
CNBC also said Florida is “one of the most difficult states to vote in.” DeSantis has championed “election integrity” legislation during his time as governor, such as cracking down on ballot harvesting and enacting an election crimes law enforcement unit.
“DeSantis argues that none of this is stopping huge numbers of people from moving to Florida, and he has a point,” CNBC noted.
“The state leads the nation in just about every measure of migration. But rated strictly on Life, Health and Inclusion, the Sunshine State can be a dreary place.”
One large measure of Florida’s population growth came in late-2022 when the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the state is the country’s fastest growing state for the first time since 1957.
“Florida’s percentage gains since 1946 have been impressive: its 2022 population is just over 9 times its 1946 population of 2,440,000,” the Census Bureau said.
