Arkansas Jumps 13 Spots to No. 28 in CNBC Study as Worker Influx Lifts Workforce

3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 9

Arkansas was named CNBC's most improved state for business in 2026 after rising 13 places to No. 28, driven largely by an influx of working-age residents and remote workers.
Workforce was the biggest boost: Arkansas climbed 23 spots to No. 13 in that category, ranked fourth for worker attraction by Lightcast, and added nearly 16,000 jobs in 2025.
Lower taxes and cheaper living helped draw families from states such as Utah — Arkansas tops out at a 3.7% income tax versus Utah's 4.45%, and it exempts Social Security benefits from tax.
The gains were capped by weak education, technology and quality-of-life scores, including just 16.3% of working-age adults holding a bachelor's degree and one of the nation's highest violent-crime rates.
Health care and infrastructure remain major drags: nearly 19% of Arkansans are food insecure, specialist access is strained, and the state still ranked only No. 23 for infrastructure.