The Best and Worst States
to Work in America

ranks #

ranks # overall, # for wage policies, # for worker protection policies; and # for right to organize. In , the minimum wage is .

is ranked first in the nation, but there is still room to improve worker rights. It leads the nation by ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. Continuing to pass legislation improving the treatment of workers will help ensure remains the national model for worker rights and protections.

is ranked last in the nation in worker rights and protections. It falls behind the nation in ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. By passing legislation improving the treatment of workers, can begin to better its regional standing.

is ranked first in the region, but there is room to improve at the national level. It leads the region by ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. Continuing to pass legislation improving the treatment of workers can help become a national model for worker rights and protections.

is ranked last in the region in worker rights and protections. It falls behind the region in ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. By passing legislation improving the treatment of workers, can begin to better its regional standing.

rank closely in the labor index. These states are on a similar level in ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. Limited new legislation improving the treatment of workers can help differentiate itself as a regional leader in worker rights and protections.

has room to improve in worker rights and protections. It is just beneath regionally in ensuring better compensation and conditions in the workplace – policies related to higher state incomes and a variety of other desirable indicators. New legislation improving the treatment of workers can help to make a rising frontrunner for worker rights and protections in the region.

District of Columbia leads the nation through greater worker protections and livable wages. It has a minimum wage of per hour, percent of what it takes to live in the state for a family of four. DC provides a right to pump in the workplace and job-protected leave, in addition to regulating shift scheduling practices. DC also leads the nation in paid sick.

District of Columbia leads the nation through greater worker protections and livable wages. It has a minimum wage of $13.25 per hour, 42.2 percent of what it takes to live in the state for a family of four. In , this ratio is percent of what it takes to live in the state. DC provides a right to pump in the workplace and job-protected leave, in addition to regulating shift scheduling practices. DC also leads the nation in paid sick.

leads the region through greater worker protections and livable wages. It has a minimum wage of per hour, percent of what it takes to live in the state for a family of four. In , this ratio is percent, with similar costs of living. provides rights in several areas where is lacking, particularly worker protections.

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Best States to Work Index by U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis region

Average index score by Bureau of Economic Analysis region

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How does rate in the Best States to Work index?

• Wage policies: Has the state raised the minimum wage to help workers earn a living wage? Do localities have capacity to raise minimum wage to accommodate higher costs of living?
• Worker protection policies: Does the state provide protections that improve the lives of workers such as paid sick leave, pregnancy accommodation, and policies assuring equal pay?
• Right to organize policies: Does the state guarantee that workers have the right to organize and sustain a trade union?

Wage policies ranking: #

• The minimum wage is X.XX
  This is XX percent of the living wage for a family of four ().
• Localities in have the capacity to raise the local minimum wage if they choose.

Worker Protection policies ranking: #

:

• Does provide accommodations for pregnant workers.
• Does offer protections for workplace breastfeeding.
• Does mandate equal pay across gender and race.
• Does prohibit pay secrecy practices in the workplace.
• Does restrict access to salary history to reduce gender and racial bias.
• Does mandate job protected leave for non-FMLA workers.
• Does mandate job protected leave longer than is required by FMLA.
• Does provide some form of paid family leave.
• Does provide some form of paid sick leave.
• Does provide flexible scheduling of worker shifts.
• Does mandate pay reporting or ‘call-in’ pay by employers.
• Does provide split shift pay regulation.
• Does provide workers advanced notice of shift scheduling.
• Does provide some form of sexual harassment protection in state law.

Right to organize policies ranking: #*

:

• Does have a so-called “Right-to-Work” law (which suppresses unions).
• Does provide both collective bargaining and wage negotiations to teachers.
• Does provide both collective bargaining and wage negotiations to police officers.
• Does provide both collective bargaining and wage negotiations to firefighters.
• Does fully legalize project labor agreements to ensure a fair wage to workers on contract.

* 21 states tie for #1.

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Methodology

All data is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1, 2018.

The index is based on state policies in three dimensions; each accounts for a third of the final overall score.

View full spreadsheets of the data.

Wage policies

Do workers earn a living wage that is sufficient to provide for them and their families? This dimension includes two areas:

• The ratio of the actual state minimum wage in relation to the “living wage” for a family of four with one wage earner. The living wage figure is from the MIT Living Wage Calculator ¹.
• Whether or not the state allows localities to implement their own minimum wage laws ².

Worker protection policies

This dimension considers the quality of life for workers, especially women and parents. The policies include:

• Protections for women who are pregnant and breastfeeding.
• Mandates for equal pay, pay secrecy, and no salary history.
• Leave for non-FMLA workers because of less time on the job; leave longer than federal FMLA.
• Mandate for paid sick leave.
• Protections around flexible scheduling, reporting pay, split shift pay, advance notice.
• Protections around sexual harassment.

Right to organize policies

Do workers have the right to organize and sustain a trade union?

• Does the state have a so-called “Right to Work” law (which suppresses union activity)?
• Do public employees (teachers, police, firefighters) have rights to collective bargaining and wage negotiation?
• Are project labor agreements for government contracts available?

1. MIT Living Wage Calculator. http://livingwage.mit.edu
2. Local control over the minimum wage is based on Input provided by the National Employment Law Project, 2018.