Maryland’s alarming slide from 22nd to 31st in CNBC’s 2024 Top States for Business rankings is more than a statistic — it’s a glaring warning sign about our state’s economic competitiveness. This significant drop demands immediate attention and decisive action from policymakers, business leaders and all stakeholders invested in Maryland’s economic future. Our fall is particularly concerning in three key areas: business friendliness (from 24th to 37th), infrastructure (15th to 37th) and a stagnant workforce ranking (28th). Most alarmingly, Maryland ranks 47th for the cost of doing business, making it the fourth-most-expensive state in which businesses operate.
Reversing the decline: To reverse this alarming trend and align with Gov. Wes Moore’s vision of promoting work, wages and wealth for all Marylanders, we propose the Moore-Miller administration and Maryland General Assembly take immediate action on four main priorities, including improving business friendliness, enhancing infrastructure and implanting tax reforms.
