How does life for working Americans vary across the country? How can factors like worker safety, wages, union representation influence the lives of U.S. workers?
New research from StartFleet.io, a company formation consultancy,has shed some light. Based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics from 2022 and 2023 the company has analyzed factors affecting workers to reveal the best and worst states for workers, and Newsweek has complied the results into a map.
What Are the Best States for U.S. Workers?
New York, which scored 77.7 out of 100, leads the list as the best state. 22.1 percent of its workforce is represented by unions and a minimal percentage of workers—0.6 percent—earning below the minimum wage, which is set at $16 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, and $15 in other parts of the state.
Workplace safety is also noteworthy, with an average of 3.1 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in 2022.
Washington ranks second with a score of 75.4. The state’s minimum wage, $16.28 per hour, is the highest in the U.S. and 19.1 percent of Washington’s workforce is unionized. Only 0.4 percent of workers earn below the minimum wage, and the state has a low rate of fatal workplace injuries.
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In third place, Hawaii earned a score of 74.5, supported by a high union representation rate of 23.4 percent. The state’s minimum wage stands at $14 per hour and it reported 4.4 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers in 2022.
Rounding out the top five are Oregon and California.
Oregon, with a score of 72.2, reports that 16.9 percent of workers are unionized, and 0.4 percent are paid below the minimum wage, which ranges between $13.70 to $15.95 per hour depending on the region.
California, scoring 71.9, benefits from strong union representation (17.6 percent) and an extensive minimum wage policy. California’s minimum wage is $16 per hour, with higher rates in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Five Worst States for Workers
Arkansas ranks worst with a score of 24 out of 100. Just 5.7 percent of Arkansas’ workforce is unionized, and 2 percent of workers are paid below the state minimum wage of $11 per hour. The state also has one of the highest workplace fatality rates, with 6.2 deaths per 100,000 workers.
Wyoming follows with a score of 27. The state has a union representation rate of 7.4 percent and a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, which aligns with the federal minimum wage. In 2022, Wyoming reported a rate of 14 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers, the highest among all states in the study.
Louisiana ranks third worst with a score of 27.7. The state reports that 5.2 percent of its workers are unionized, with 1.6 percent earning below the minimum wage, which also stands at $7.25 per hour. Louisiana reported 6.7 fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 workers.
Georgia and South Carolina complete the bottom five. Georgia scored 28.5, with 5.4 percent of its workforce unionized and 1.9 percent earning below the minimum wage. Although the state minimum wage is $5.15, federal standards require Georgia employers to pay at least $7.25 per hour.
In South Carolina, which scored 30.3, only 2 percent of workers are unionized, and 1 percent earn below the federal minimum wage. The state reported 6.4 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers.
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