Photo courtesy Canva🎧 Washington’s “Top 10” Ranking Hides a Business Exodus Your browser does not support the audio element. Its economy ranking is a mediocre 19th. It’s obvious when you consider Washington ranking in short-term fiscal stability – 50. CNBC’s Top States for Business ranks Washington 11th overall but near the bottom on cost of doing business and business friendliness (40th). A state that drives away its economic engines cannot sustain high rankings, or high living standards, for long.