Best and Worst States to Work in America - 2022
Each year, the Best States to Work Index ranks the US states on compensation and conditions for workers.
The past few years have brought daunting challenges to workers: real wages declining in the face of historic inflation; COVID-19 and climate hazards making conditions more perilous; women losing fundamental rights to make decisions about their lives.
As Congress fails to act, workers are demanding, and winning, change. They’re organizing to form new unions, elect more helpful lawmakers, and press for changes in state laws. Workers and advocates are the reason that the best states are getting better; and they are the hope for the worst states.
This index ranks all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
Explore the 2022 interactive map to see how the states score
Previous editions of the BSWI
- See the 2021 map
- See the 2021 map of Best States for Working Women
- See the 2020 special edition: Best and Worst States to Work in America – During COVID-19
- 2020 regular edition
- 2019 edition
- 2018 edition
Full data in this spreadsheet