Washington is one of the best states for workers, new study says. Here’s why
A new report ranks the top places for workers in the U.S., and Washington is high on the list.
The Evergreen State came in at No. 5 on Oxfam America’s “Best States to Work in the U.S. 2025” index, which includes all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The nonprofit based its rankings on wage, worker protection and right to organize laws and policies.
It’s been putting out the index since 2018.
Why does Washington stand out as one of the best states to work?
Washington’s overall score was 76.79 out of 100 possible points.
Washington, D.C., which took the top spot, scored 87.66 overall, while the bottom-ranked North Carolina scored 5.83.
In the category of wage policies, Washington state did especially well, coming in at No. 2.
The state ranked fourth for worker protection policies and 13th for rights to organize.
“Our ranking system is meant to inspire a race to the top for all states; it is an advocacy tool to help policymakers identify the spaces where there is room for improvement at the state and federal levels,” Oxfam America said, adding that, “there is no state with a perfect score; even those states at the very top of our ranking have room for improvement.”
How did Oxfam America come up with its rankings?
Oxfam America gave the most weight to wage policies, with that category making up 40% of the overall score.
The nonprofit looked at several wage-related data points, including the ratio of the state’s minimum wage to a four-person family’s cost of living.
In Washington, the $16.66 minimum wage is 35% of a working family’s cost of living, Oxfam America said.
For worker protections, weighted at 35%, Oxfam America considered “the quality of life for workers, especially women and parents,” by looking at factors such as equal pay mandates and paid sick leave and family leave.
Washington has protections in place in those two areas, among others, Oxfam America said. The nonprofit also noted some worker protection areas where the state lacks, including split shift pay regulation.
And for rights to organize, which was 25% of the overall score, Oxfam America looked at protections around collective bargaining, among other data points. Washington largely met the criteria, according to the report.
What are the top five states for workers in the U.S.?
Here are the top five places for workers in the country for 2025, according to Oxfam America:
1. Washington, D.C.
2. California
3. Oregon
4. New York
5. Washington
What are the bottom five states for workers in the U.S.?
Here are the bottom five places for workers in the country for 2025, according to Oxfam America:
1. North Carolina
2. Mississippi
3. Alabama
4. Georgia
5. Tennessee
This story was originally published August 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Washington is one of the best states for workers, new study says. Here’s why."
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