According to a new study conducted by Peak Sales Recruiting, Oregon has been ranked as the best state to work in 2024, while Mississippi has been listed as the worst. The study used data from various sources, including the Census Bureau, BLS, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and Tax Foundation from 2022 and 2023. The analysis considered eight metrics, such as state tax rates, job and GDP growth, weekly hours worked, commute times, remote work options, union representation, and earnings ratio. This information suggests that Oregon might offer favorable conditions for career advancement and high-paying jobs, while Mississippi might not be as conducive to these factors.
Top 10
Oregon Is the Best State for Workers, driven by its strong union representation (16.9%), short work week (an average of 37.8 hours), and solid growth rates for jobs (2.2%) and GDP (3.8%).
- Oregon
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Montana
- Delaware
- Washington
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
Remote Work
When more employees in a state work remotely, it means they have greater flexibility in their work arrangements. This can lead to increased job satisfaction. Currently, the District of Columbia has the highest percentage of remote workers, with 33.8% of employees working from home. Colorado and Washington follow closely in second and third place. On the other hand, Mississippi ranks last with only 5.5% of workers being remote in 2022.
Poorly Ranked States Still Shine in Some Categories:
No. 40 Texas, for example, has a job growth rate of 3.2%, stronger than any state except No. 18 Nevada. And in No. 33 New York, 22.1% of workers are represented by a union, the second-highest rate after No. 20 Hawaii.
Worst states
While the best states for workers aren’t geographically concentrated, the worst states are located mainly in the South. Mississippi ranked last, followed by No. 50 Arkansas, No. 49 Alabama, and No. 48 Louisiana. Mississippi has the U.S.’s second-lowest job growth rate, at 0.5% (after Rhode Island, which lost jobs at a rate of 0.7%), and people there work an average of 39.7 hours per week, on par with Arkansas and Louisiana for some of the longest weeks in the country.
Job Growth
At the state level, Nevada ranks No. 1 with 3.4% job growth, followed by Texas and Idaho. Rhode Island ranks last, with a 0.7% decline over the past year.
The best and worst states for workers can vary depending on their individual priorities, as well as those of their employers. However, this report can help them gain an understanding of the complex factors that shape working conditions across the country. Generally, states that prioritize workers' rights, offer remote work options, and maintain a reasonable cost of living tend to be more favorable for employees. This enables them to lead more balanced lives and contributes towards economic growth and stability.