The last few years have been a challenge for those in the workforce. The pandemic, inflation, and the passing of state laws which affect women’s rights — all of these factors and others directly affect workers. Oxfam released its annual survey, which looks at compensation and conditions for workers in each state, and ranked the best and worst states to work in right now. Scores are based on wage policies, worker protections, and the right to organize. Here are the top 10 states (including Washington, D.C.) followed by the bottom 10 states based on scores that factored in wage policies, worker protections, and rights to organize.
Related: Best and Worst States for Older Workers
1. Oregon
Overall Score: 86.72
Oregon ranks the highest in the country for protection of workers, wages, and worker rights.
Related: The Most Satisfying Jobs That Also Pay Well
2. California
Overall Score: 85.56
California received a score of 100 for workers’ rights, including the ability to unionize.
Related: Big-Name Companies Where Workers Are Fighting to Unionize
3. Washington
Overall Score: 83.33
Washington received high marks for wage policies, including a minimum wage of $14.49 per hour.
Related: Which State Has the Highest (and Lowest) Minimum Wage?
4. District of Columbia
Overall Score: 80.23
D.C. scored 100 when it came to rights for workers.
5. New York
Overall Score: 79.31
New York was also given a score of 100 thanks to workers union laws and public employee rights.
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6. Massachusetts
Overall Score: 76.36
The state actually dropped in ranking, and was in third place last year.
7. Connecticut
Overall Score: 75.29
Connecticut moved up by one spot compared to last year’s survey.
8. New Jersey
Overall Score: 74.77
New Jersey dropped two slots from its 6th position last year but is still one of the 10 best.
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9. Colorado
Overall Score: 68.38
Colorado was in the top 10 best states last year as well.
10. Illinois
Overall Score: 67.77
Illinois also rounded out the top 10 last year, and the state’s score for wage policies went up a couple points.
43. Idaho
Overall Score: 21.44
Idaho dropped two spots this year, which suggest that things got a little worse for workers in the Gem State.
44. Utah
Overall Score: 18.94
Utah also was in the 10 worst states to work last year.
45. Oklahoma
Overall Score: 18.80
Things seem to have gotten worse for workers in Oklahoma as it dropped in ranking from last year.
46. Kansas
Overall Score: 18.48
Kansas was in the same position in 2021, but the state’s overall score dropped.
47. South Carolina
Overall Score: 12.51
The state received a zero when it came to workers right to organize.
48. Texas
Overall Score: 11.56
Texas also received a score of zero when it came to workers’ right to organize.
49. Alabama
Overall Score: 10.06
Alabama received low scores for wage policies.
50. Georgia
Overall Score: 7.52
Georgia moved up one spot from last year, no longer making it one of the bottom two states.
51. Mississippi
Overall Score: 7.11
The state received a score of zero for worker protection.
52. North Carolina
Overall Score: 4.55
The state continues to come in last place, thanks to low scores on all areas for workers.
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