Ohioans have always had an entrepreneurial and adventurous spirit. But according to a new report by CNBC, it now has the pro-business credentials to match. The news outlet ranked the top states in the country for business in 2025, and the Buckeye State landed at fifth. (For comparison, neighboring West Virginia ranked 40th.)

In fact, the only category in which Ohio received a letter grade below a C was for workforce, for which the state received a D+.

But aside from that area, Ohio is first in the country for infrastructure, second for cost of doing business and sixth for technology and innovation, among other successes. There is room for improvement, certainly, but there is much to be proud of.

“This ranking not only proves we’re open for business in Ohio but also that we’re doing it right,” said Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Now, here’s the other side of that coin regarding that workforce. Unemployment in Ohio was at 4.9% in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is steady from the previous month, but continues to mark an uptick from the start of the year, when the rate stood at 4.6%. The national rate for May was 4.2%.

So there are more Ohioans unemployed and seeking work than there are on average across the country, but we’re doing better for business than almost everyone else. Perhaps it’s just a matter of some of those new businesses reaching full staffing levels.

For now, though, LaRose is right to celebrate, but he and other public officials such as the folks at JobsOhio must keep their eye on whether the hard work we’ve done for employers is paying off for Ohioans who want to work.