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Best and Worst States to Work in America

The Best States to Work Index ranks the US states on compensation and conditions for workers.

Labor laws are intended to help workers, by addressing the imbalance of power between workers and employers. Historically, the federal government has taken the most significant action to pass laws that protect workers. As the years have marched on, however, the landscape in Congress and the administration has changed dramatically. Today, federal labor laws and standards are, at best, at a standstill.

Fortunately, state and local governments understand the urgency for action, and most states have passed laws that exceed frozen federal policies.

The Best States to Work Index assesses the landscape of labor laws at the state level, and ranks the states based on compensation and conditions facing workers.

Explore our interactive map to see how the states score.

See the map

Author

Oxfam

Publication date

Publication type

Research