CNBC report ranks Utah low on quality indices
Read, Watch or Listen
Salt Lake City — CNBC's annual 'America's Top States for Business' report this year placed Utah among states with low quality-of-life scores, identifying air quality problems, limited childcare capacity, low minimum wage and constrained primary-care access as key contributors. The state's low crime rate was noted as a positive, but measurable health and family-support metrics drove its poor quality-of-life assessment. The ranking, released this year, counted quality of life as 11.6 percent of the overall score and contributed to Utah's No. 16 overall business placement; CNBC additionally scored Tennessee as the worst on quality of life while still ranking Tennessee relatively high for business. The report provides companies and policymakers with dated metrics they can use in recruitment and policy planning.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Prior year: U.S. News ranked Utah highly for fiscal stability, economy and education.
- This year: CNBC released its updated 'America's Top States for Business' rankings and increased emphasis on quality of life.
- CNBC's quality-of-life subindex flagged Utah for high ozone levels and limited primary-care providers and childcare capacity.
- Media coverage (ABC4, Axios) reported Utah among low quality-of-life states while noting its low crime rate and overall No.16 business ranking.
- CNBC also identified Tennessee as the worst state for quality of life but noted Tennessee's relatively strong overall business score.
Why This Matters to You
If you live in Utah, this report might impact your lifestyle choices. You may want to consider air purifiers for ozone issues, and start exploring additional childcare and healthcare options. It's also a reminder to keep pushing for higher minimum wage.
The Bottom Line
Utah's low quality-of-life score doesn't mean it's all bad news. The state still ranks high for business and has a low crime rate. But there's room for improvement, especially in health and family support areas. Worth forwarding if you know someone considering a move to Utah.
- Articles Published:
- 6
- Right Leaning:
- 0
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
- 6
- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%
Companies and states that score higher on quality-of-life and business metrics — including Ohio and states ranked exemplary by CNBC — can leverage the rankings to attract employers and talent, increasing their visibility among corporate relocation decision-makers.
Utah residents and families confronting high ozone, limited childcare capacity, low minimum wage, and constrained primary-care access were negatively characterized by the CNBC quality-of-life assessment, potentially affecting local recruitment and policy scrutiny.
Comments