The Best and Worst Places to Work in America

Oregon is the best state to work in while North Carolina checks in last, according to rankings from the nonprofit group Oxfam America.

The index is based on state policies in three areas: wages, worker protections and labor organizing rights. It’s the latest edition of the annual rankings put out by Oxfam. All the data used for the report is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1 2021.

After Oregon, the report says the other best states to work in are:

• New York
• Massachusetts
• California
• Washington, D.C.
• New Jersey
• Washington
• Connecticut
• Colorado
• Illinois

One of the more notable changes in this year’s ranking is Virginia’s leap to the top. In 2018 and 2019 the state was at the bottom of the list, in the 51st spot. In 2020, it improved somewhat, checking in at 37. Now, the state has jumped to the top half of the list, ranking at 23. 

The report credits a variety of policy changes for Virginia’s upgrade, such as strengthening protections for domestic workers, raising the minimum wage and adopting Covid-19 safety standards.

Following North Carolina, the other worst states to work in, according to the report, are: 

• Georgia
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Kansas
• Utah
• Tennessee
• Oklahoma

The authors of the report say that more robust worker protections are needed at the state and federal levels. Although most states have passed basic laws on equal pay and sexual harassment, few have enacted polices like paid sick leave, paid family leave and fair scheduling laws.

For the full report click here.