Issue 11.27

July 11, 2025

DELAWARE RANKED 29TH

2025 CNBC TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

Now in its 19th year, CNBC’s Top States for Business evaluates all 50 states across 135 metrics in 10 key categories of competitiveness. The rankings reflect the factors companies prioritize when making site selection decisions, with each category weighted based on how often states emphasize them in their economic development marketing. Economy carried the most weight in 2025.

Delaware ranked 29th overall this year, up from 34th in 2024. The state made significant gains in economy (moving up to 4th), access to capital (19th), and cost of living (9th). However, Delaware dropped in a few categories, including infrastructure (from 23rd to 31st) and workforce (from 7th to 11th), suggesting room for improvement in these areas. See how Delaware stacks up >

DELAWARE RANKS MIDDLE

OF THE PACK

CNBC’s rankings for their 2025 Top States for Business came out yesterday and Delaware moved up from 34th to 29th. There are many forums that rank states and their competitiveness, all with areas weighted slightly differently and varying metrics factored into those scores. Therefore, it’s important to note that rankings from platforms like CNBC, CEO Magazine, Forbes, and others are nuanced. However, these rankings are what outsiders see. This, at times, can be their first impression of Delaware and what the state has to offer them as a resident, employee, or employer. So, let’s dive into the data. Read more >

Pay Transparency

A Regional Comparison

Delaware is poised to join the growing number of states implementing pay transparency requirements. With the passage of HS2 for HB105 by the General Assembly and the bill now awaiting the governor’s signature, Delaware employers would soon be required to include compensation details in job postings. As we look ahead to the law’s effective date in 2027, here’s how Delaware’s new framework would compare to similar laws in Maryland and New Jersey. Read more >

EMPLOYER COVERAGE:

DELAWARE:

26+ employees

MARYLAND:

All employers

NEW JERSEY:

10+ employees, non-seasonal

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE:

DELAWARE:

Jobs in DE or non-international remote jobs by DE-based employers

MARYLAND:

Jobs physically performed

in MD; occasional

presence exempt

NEW JERSEY:

Any job that can be performed at least

in part in NJ

RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENT:

DELAWARE:

3 years per employee

MARYLAND:

Not specified

NEW JERSEY:

Not specified

PENALITIES:

DELAWARE:

1st offense: warning; 2nd & subsequent: $500–$10,000 per violation (based on job opportunity, not posting)

MARYLAND:

1st offense: order to comply; 2nd: $300; 3rd & subsequent: $600; retaliation fine is $1,000 per mistreated employee

NEW JERSEY:

$300-600 per violation (based on job opportunity, not posting)

View the full comparison chart

FAST FACT: According to the 2024 Small Business Administration Report on Delaware, more than 20,000 businesses are exempt from the state’s pay transparency act. Read the report >

COMMITTEE SPOTLIGHT

ENVIRONMENTAL

The State Chamber’s Environmental Committee is focused on key issues such as air quality, water resources, energy, and site remediation. One bill of interest involves changes to how Delaware reports chemical levels in public drinking water systems. As of this writing, currently pending before the House Health and Human Development Committee is Senate Bill 72 with Senate Amendment 1. ... If enacted, the bill would direct the Division of Public Health to publish online the levels of certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in each public drinking water system, along with a chart showing maximum contaminant level (MCL) thresholds so users can compare their system’s PFAS levels to the MCLs. Read more >