March 18, 2026, 1:38 p.m. CT
Mississippi ranks last in the nation for innovation, a new report says. It’s a warning sign for a state that wants to grow more high-paying jobs.
Investing in STEM education and tech jobs can attract more businesses. It also helps residents access higher-paying jobs.
“Each year, the country invests more than $800 billion in research and development, helping it rank third out of 139 nations on the Global Innovation Index — trailing only Switzerland and Sweden,” Adam McCann wrote for WalletHub.
He said the ranking highlights “the strength of America’s markets and business sophistication.” It also shows high marks for “knowledge creation and technological output.”
Last year, CNBC ranked Mississippi one of the worst states for business. It performed well in cost of living, education and quality of life.
But the state ranked in the bottom 10 for:
- Workforce: 49
- Economy: 49
- Infrastructure: 44
- Access to Capital: 41
- Technology & Innovation: 40
“The most innovative states are especially attractive to people who have majored in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, as they offer abundant career opportunities and investment dollars, both for jobs at existing companies and for startups. These states also instill young students with the skills they need to succeed in the current workforce, skills which are useful whether or not they pursue a STEM career,” WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said.
Here’s what we know about where Mississippi ranks and why.
Is Mississippi an innovative state?
WalletHub ranked Mississippi last in the U.S. for innovation.
Analysts considered 25 indicators of innovation friendliness. They considered how many STEM professionals and tech companies a state has. They also looked at how much research and development money is spent per person.
The Magnolia State had an overall index score of 22.97. Compare that to the District of Columbia. The No. 1 innovative state scored 69.13.
STEM jobs, education are key
Mississippi ranked last for human capital.
We have the lowest share of STEM workers in the nation. And the state ranks 50th for projected STEM-job demand by 2030.
Mississippi ranked last in the nation for science and engineering college graduates older than 25. The state was 49th in the U.S. for eighth-grade math and science performance.
D.C. ranked first in human capital.
It has three times the share of STEM professionals as Mississippi. It also ranked first for expected STEM-job demand.
Innovation environment
Mississippi ranked 48th for innovation environment. West Virginia was last in the nation. California was first.
The Magnolia State ranks last for venture-capital funding per capita.
Where are the most innovative states?
These are the Top 10 most innovation-friendly states in the country, according to WalletHub.
- District of Columbia
- Massachusetts
- California
- Colorado
- Washington
- Maryland
- Virginia
- Delaware
- Utah
- New Jersey
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
