Janos Varga | Istock | Getty Images
New Jersey Score and Ranking
| CATEGORY | 2026 SCORE | 2026 RANK | 2025 RANK | 2026 GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INFRASTRUCTURE | 186 | 41 | 21 | D |
| ECONOMY | 204 | 31 | 31 | C- |
| WORKFORCE | 193 | 19 | 14 | C |
| QUALITY OF LIFE | 223 | 3 | 3 | A+ |
| COST OF DOING BUSINESS | 108 | 38 | 38 | D+ |
| TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION | 140 | 20 | 16 | B- |
| BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS | 37 | 50 | 49 | F |
| ACCESS TO CAPITAL | 79 | 13 | 11 | B+ |
| EDUCATION | 76 | 2 | 7 | A |
| COST OF LIVING | 18 | 39 | 37 | D+ |
| OVERALL | 1264 | 31 | 30 |
Economic Profile
Governor: Mikie Sherrill, Democrat
Population: 9,548,215
GDP growth (Q1 2026): 0.80%
Unemployment rate (May 2026): 4.70%
Top corporate tax rate: 11.50%
Top individual income tax rate: 10.75%
Gasoline tax: 67.55 cents/gallon
Bond rating (Moody's/S&P): Aa3, Stable/A+, Stable
Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (including 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence
