CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – After Governor Glenn Youngkin received last year’s top-ranking with much fanfare, Virginia has fallen from the top spot to number-4 in the nation in CNBC’s “Top States for Business” rankings. The Governor has often said Virginia is open for business, but has been trying recently to make up for lost jobs in the federal workforce. The network says President Trump’s federal workforce cuts are a major factor in Virginia’s worst showing since 2018.

The Commonwealth not only topped the list last year, but had been in the top three the five previous years after 2018. CNBC notes the federal government accounted for 144,000 Virginia jobs in 2024, the largest percentage of the workforce other than Maryland and Hawaii. And one can add about 300,000 more with federal contractors and people who commute to federal jobs elsewhere in the DMV. The network says Virginia was one of just three states whose unemployment rate rose in May.

Back in February as DOGE was in numerous government agencies announcing layoffs and firings, Governor Youngkin at Capitol One headquarters in Northern Virginia unveiled a new state resource connecting Virginia’s then 250,000 job openings with the workforce. VirginiaHasJobs.com, he said, was a show that Virginia is open for business and competing to attract more investment to drive further job growth. And for federal workers laid off, the Governor says Virginia has opportunities and support resource bundles at “governor.virginia.gov/federal-worker-support“. The Governor says Virginia has opportunities for those looking for them.

Virginia finishes behind the new number-one North Carolina, then Texas and Florida respectively.

Click here for that February announcement.

Click here for CNBC’s rankings.