The last several years have been difficult for the working people of America. Inflation is soaring at a pace not seen since the early 1980s, eating up wage increases. If they have a 401(k) or retirement plan tied to the stock market, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has slid about 19% so far in 2022 (Sept. 23). COVID-19 and climate hazards have been making workplace conditions more perilous.
To identify the worst states for working people, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the index scores for Best and Worst States to Work in America report published by Oxfam, a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. All data in the Oxfam report is based on laws and policies in effect as of July 1, 2022. The index is based on state policies in three areas: wages (40% of overall score); worker protections (35% of overall score); and rights to organize (25% of overall score). The minimum wage and the MIT calculation for living wage in each state also comes from the report. The population that is food insecure comes from the Department of Agriculture Economic Research Initiative. 2021 unemployment and labor force size come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the poverty rate comes from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
Based on data from Oxfam, the six worst states for working people are in the South: North Carolina, Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and South Carolina. All six have minimum wage set at the federally mandated $7.25 an hour. Mississippi has the highest food insecurity and poverty rates, and Tennessee has the lowest MIT-calculated living wage.
A higher minimum wage can make a difference. For example, Washington state has the highest minimum wage of any state at $14.49 an hour. A full-time minimum wage job in that state pays about $30,000 a year. In neighboring Idaho, where the minimum is $7.25 an hour, the same job pays $15,080 annually. (Here are 50 cities with huge populations living on food stamps.)
The next four worst states for working people are Plains states Oklahoma and Kansas and Western states Idaho and Utah. All 10 of these states are right-to-work states, where union activity is discouraged. (These are the states with the highest union membership.)
Click here to see the worst states for working people.
50. Oregon
> Best States to Work Index Score: 86.7
> Minimum wage: $13.50 — 5th highest
> MIT living wage: $41.36 — 6th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.2% — 15th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.2% — 23rd highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.2% — 20th highest
> Labor force: 2,148,333
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49. California
> Best States to Work Index Score: 85.6
> Minimum wage: $14.00 — 3rd highest
> MIT living wage: $46.75 — the highest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.8% — 18th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.3% — 21st highest
> 2021 unemployment: 7.3% — the highest
> Labor force: 18,923,194
48. Washington
> Best States to Work Index Score: 83.3
> Minimum wage: $14.49 — the highest
> MIT living wage: $37.66 — 19th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.8% — 10th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 9.9% — 5th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.2% — 20th highest
> Labor force: 3,913,513
47. New York
> Best States to Work Index Score: 79.3
> Minimum wage: $13.20 — 6th highest
> MIT living wage: $43.10 — 5th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.5% — 24th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.9% — 13th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.9% — 3rd highest
> Labor force: 9,441,458
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46. Massachusetts
> Best States to Work Index Score: 76.4
> Minimum wage: $14.25 — 2nd highest
> MIT living wage: $43.77 — 3rd highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.4% — 7th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.4% — 11th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.7% — 12th highest
> Labor force: 3,750,870
45. Connecticut
> Best States to Work Index Score: 75.3
> Minimum wage: $14.00 — 3rd highest
> MIT living wage: $40.76 — 7th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.8% — 13th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.1% — 6th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.3% — 6th highest
> Labor force: 1,855,923
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44. New Jersey
> Best States to Work Index Score: 74.8
> Minimum wage: $13.00 — 7th highest
> MIT living wage: $43.44 — 4th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.4% — 7th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.2% — 8th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.3% — 6th highest
> Labor force: 4,661,087
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43. Colorado
> Best States to Work Index Score: 68.4
> Minimum wage: $12.56 — 10th highest
> MIT living wage: $40.11 — 9th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.1% — 24th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 9.7% — 4th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.4% — 18th highest
> Labor force: 3,156,110
42. Illinois
> Best States to Work Index Score: 67.8
> Minimum wage: $12.00 — 14th highest
> MIT living wage: $38.42 — 15th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.2% — 15th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.1% — 25th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.1% — 9th highest
> Labor force: 6,318,915
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41. Vermont
> Best States to Work Index Score: 66.7
> Minimum wage: $12.55 — 11th highest
> MIT living wage: $39.53 — 10th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.6% — 9th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.3% — 9th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.4% — 8th lowest
> Labor force: 328,216
40. New Mexico
> Best States to Work Index Score: 65.6
> Minimum wage: $11.50 — 15th highest
> MIT living wage: $36.61 — 20th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 13.4% — 7th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 18.4% — 3rd highest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.8% — 4th highest
> Labor force: 943,356
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39. Maine
> Best States to Work Index Score: 65.6
> Minimum wage: $12.75 — 9th highest
> MIT living wage: $39.06 — 12th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.4% — 19th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.5% — 21st lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.6% — 24th lowest
> Labor force: 681,884
38. Maryland
> Best States to Work Index Score: 63.0
> Minimum wage: $12.50 — 12th highest
> MIT living wage: $40.40 — 8th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.2% — 15th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.3% — 10th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.8% — 11th highest
> Labor force: 3,175,550
37. Rhode Island
> Best States to Work Index Score: 60.7
> Minimum wage: $12.25 — 13th highest
> MIT living wage: $38.11 — 16th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.2% — 5th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.4% — 20th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.6% — 15th highest
> Labor force: 571,034
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36. Nevada
> Best States to Work Index Score: 60.4
> Minimum wage: $10.50 — 19th highest
> MIT living wage: $36.58 — 19th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.9% — 12th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 14.1% — 11th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 7.2% — 2nd highest
> Labor force: 1,504,761
35. Minnesota
> Best States to Work Index Score: 58.6
> Minimum wage: $10.33 — 22nd highest
> MIT living wage: $38.90 — 14th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 7.0% — 3rd lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 9.3% — 3rd lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.4% — 8th lowest
> Labor force: 3,021,360
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34. Hawaii
> Best States to Work Index Score: 57.9
> Minimum wage: $10.10 — 23rd highest
> MIT living wage: $45.71 — 2nd highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.9% — 11th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.2% — 18th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.7% — 12th highest
> Labor force: 668,413
33. Arizona
> Best States to Work Index Score: 52.0
> Minimum wage: $12.80 — 8th highest
> MIT living wage: $37.82 — 18th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.0% — 22nd highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.8% — 19th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.9% — 24th highest
> Labor force: 3,518,425
32. Delaware
> Best States to Work Index Score: 51.1
> Minimum wage: $10.50 — 19th highest
> MIT living wage: $38.93 — 13th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.9% — 20th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.6% — 22nd lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.3% — 19th highest
> Labor force: 496,430
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31. Virginia
> Best States to Work Index Score: 49.6
> Minimum wage: $11.00 — 17th highest
> MIT living wage: $39.18 — 11th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 8.5% — 8th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.2% — 7th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.9% — 16th lowest
> Labor force: 4,267,656
30. Ohio
> Best States to Work Index Score: 49.1
> Minimum wage: $9.30 — 24th lowest
> MIT living wage: $34.83 — 7th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.6% — 15th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.4% — 16th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.1% — 22nd highest
> Labor force: 5,736,882
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29. Alaska
> Best States to Work Index Score: 43.7
> Minimum wage: $10.34 — 21st highest
> MIT living wage: $36.40 — 18th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.6% — 23rd highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.5% — 12th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.4% — 5th highest
> Labor force: 354,936
28. Nebraska
> Best States to Work Index Score: 43.4
> Minimum wage: $9.00 — 22nd lowest
> MIT living wage: $37.36 — 22nd highest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.5% — 24th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.8% — 13th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 2.5% — the lowest
> Labor force: 1,049,033
27. Montana
> Best States to Work Index Score: 42.9
> Minimum wage: $9.20 — 23rd lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.92 — 23rd lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.4% — 25th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.9% — 24th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.4% — 8th lowest
> Labor force: 549,743
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26. South Dakota
> Best States to Work Index Score: 42.2
> Minimum wage: $9.95 — 25th highest
> MIT living wage: $33.83 — 2nd lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.1% — 12th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.3% — 22nd highest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.1% — 3rd lowest
> Labor force: 468,015
25. New Hampshire
> Best States to Work Index Score: 41.7
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $37.04 — 25th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 5.7% — the lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 7.2% — the lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.5% — 9th lowest
> Labor force: 755,422
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24. Florida
> Best States to Work Index Score: 37.9
> Minimum wage: $10.00 — 24th highest
> MIT living wage: $37.25 — 23rd highest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.1% — 24th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.1% — 17th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.6% — 24th lowest
> Labor force: 10,312,768
23. Missouri
> Best States to Work Index Score: 37.3
> Minimum wage: $11.15 — 16th highest
> MIT living wage: $37.10 — 24th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.5% — 17th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.7% — 20th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.4% — 21st lowest
> Labor force: 3,062,449
22. Michigan
> Best States to Work Index Score: 36.0
> Minimum wage: $9.87 — 25th lowest
> MIT living wage: $35.94 — 14th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.8% — 13th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.1% — 18th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.9% — 10th highest
> Labor force: 4,776,110
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21. Pennsylvania
> Best States to Work Index Score: 33.4
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.34 — 16th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.9% — 20th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.1% — 25th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 6.3% — 6th highest
> Labor force: 6,406,185
20. Arkansas
> Best States to Work Index Score: 29.5
> Minimum wage: $11.00 — 17th highest
> MIT living wage: $34.81 — 6th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 12.6% — 9th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 16.3% — 6th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.0% — 18th lowest
> Labor force: 1,332,620
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19. West Virginia
> Best States to Work Index Score: 29.4
> Minimum wage: $8.75 — 21st lowest
> MIT living wage: $34.88 — 8th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 15.1% — 2nd highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 16.8% — 4th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.0% — 23rd highest
> Labor force: 788,826
18. Kentucky
> Best States to Work Index Score: 26.8
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $34.49 — 4th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 13.8% — 6th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 16.5% — 5th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.7% — 25th lowest
> Labor force: 2,036,942
17. Indiana
> Best States to Work Index Score: 26.4
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $34.73 — 5th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.6% — 15th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 12.2% — 24th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.6% — 11th lowest
> Labor force: 3,321,548
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16. Wyoming
> Best States to Work Index Score: 25.4
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $33.88 — 3rd lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.5% — 17th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.4% — 19th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.5% — 22nd lowest
> Labor force: 290,404
15. Wisconsin
> Best States to Work Index Score: 25.1
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.34 — 16th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.7% — 17th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 10.8% — 14th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.8% — 14th lowest
> Labor force: 3,134,439
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14. Iowa
> Best States to Work Index Score: 24.9
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $37.87 — 17th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 6.9% — 2nd lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.1% — 17th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.2% — 19th lowest
> Labor force: 1,676,075
13. North Dakota
> Best States to Work Index Score: 24.1
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $34.94 — 9th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 7.9% — 4th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.1% — 16th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.7% — 12th lowest
> Labor force: 406,187
12. Tennessee
> Best States to Work Index Score: 23.1
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $33.17 — the lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 12.5% — 10th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.6% — 14th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.3% — 20th lowest
> Labor force: 3,327,966
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11. Louisiana
> Best States to Work Index Score: 23.0
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.96 — 24th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 14.8% — 3rd highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 19.6% — the highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.5% — 17th highest
> Labor force: 2,062,492
10. Idaho
> Best States to Work Index Score: 21.4
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.99 — 25th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 9.6% — 16th lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.0% — 15th lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.6% — 11th lowest
> Labor force: 917,056
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9. Utah
> Best States to Work Index Score: 18.9
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.86 — 22nd lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.0% — 22nd lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 8.6% — 2nd lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 2.7% — 2nd lowest
> Labor force: 1,681,494
8. Oklahoma
> Best States to Work Index Score: 18.8
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $35.47 — 11th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 14.6% — 4th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 15.6% — 8th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.8% — 14th lowest
> Labor force: 1,854,234
7. Kansas
> Best States to Work Index Score: 18.5
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $37.45 — 21st highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.3% — 20th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 11.7% — 23rd lowest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.2% — 4th lowest
> Labor force: 1,495,665
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6. South Carolina
> Best States to Work Index Score: 12.5
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $37.61 — 20th highest
> Food insecurity rate: 11.2% — 21st highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 14.6% — 9th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.0% — 18th lowest
> Labor force: 2,364,366
5. Texas
> Best States to Work Index Score: 11.6
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $35.75 — 13th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 13.3% — 8th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 14.2% — 10th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.7% — 12th highest
> Labor force: 14,220,446
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4. Alabama
> Best States to Work Index Score: 10.1
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $35.02 — 10th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 14.0% — 5th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 16.1% — 7th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.4% — 8th lowest
> Labor force: 2,246,993
3. Georgia
> Best States to Work Index Score: 7.5
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.80 — 21st lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 10.0% — 22nd lowest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 14.0% — 12th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 3.9% — 16th lowest
> Labor force: 5,186,969
2. Mississippi
> Best States to Work Index Score: 7.1
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $35.67 — 12th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 15.3% — the highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 19.4% — 2nd highest
> 2021 unemployment: 5.6% — 15th highest
> Labor force: 1,254,239
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1. North Carolina
> Best States to Work Index Score: 4.6
> Minimum wage: $7.25 — 20th lowest
> MIT living wage: $36.37 — 17th lowest
> Food insecurity rate: 12.1% — 11th highest
> Poverty rate, 2021: 13.4% — 15th highest
> 2021 unemployment: 4.8% — 25th highest
> Labor force: 4,959,672
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