By Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard
The worst state to work in the US is Wyoming, with an overall score of 9.6 out of 10
Rhode Island is the best state to work in, with a score of 0.4
Scores were assigned to each state based on factors such as union support and work fatalities
A new analysis has revealed the worst states to work in in the US, with Wyoming emerging at the forefront.
The study, conducted by employment law experts Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard, scrutinized data based on the percentage of employed individuals represented by unions and the states with the highest work fatality rates in 2022.
The data was collected from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in each state for both metrics and weighted against the state’s populations for a fair ranking. These two metrics were then combined and created into scores ranked from zero to ten, with ten being the worst and zero being the best, to determine the worst and best states to work in.
Wyoming stands out as the least favorable state to work in, with an overall score of 9.6. With 34 deaths overall and a 12.7% rate for work-related fatalities in 2022, the state receives the worst possible score of 10. As well as this, with only 7.3% of 243 employees reporting union support, Wyomingites acquire a score of 7.5.
Mississippi is the second-worst state to work in, with an overall score of 5.3. The state's fatality rate score was 4.9, which translates to a 6.9% work-related death rate and 38 total deaths. Those represented by unions obtained a score of 7.6, with just 7.2% of individuals receiving union backing.
South Carolina ranks as the third worst state to work in, with a score of 5.1. In 2022, the work fatality score for South Carolinians was 4.2 due to 132 job-related deaths, translating into a fatality rate of 6.1%. A score of 10 was obtained for union representation, as just 2% were supported.
Louisiana also has a score of 5.1, placing it joint third. The Pelican State experienced 120 workplace fatalities in 2022, with a death rate of 6.4% and a score of 4.4. Additionally, 5.2% of employees were represented by unions, resulting in a score of 8.5.
The Worst US States to Work In
West Virginia is the fourth worst state to work in, scoring 5. West Virginians recieved a score of 4.8 for work-related fatalities and a death rate of 6.8%, which is equivalent to 48 deaths in total. West Virginia’s employees experienced 10% of successful union representation, resulting in a score of 6.3.
Also with a score of 5 is New Mexico. There was a total of 57 fatalities in the workplace in 2022, resulting in a death rate of 6.8% and a score of 4.8. Their union successfully represented 10.6% of New Mexicans, acquiring a score of 6.
Arkansas is in fifth place, with an overall score of 4.8. In 2022, Arkansas experienced a fatality rate of 6.1%; this equated to 75 deaths overall and a score of 4.2. Successful union representation for 1,204 employees was 5.7%, resulting in a score of 8.3.
The sixth worst state to work in is South Dakota, acquiring a score of 4.6. South Dakotans experienced a work fatality rate of 5.6%, resulting in a score of 3.7 for the 132 deaths that occurred. The state scored 9 for union representation, with 4.2% receiving support.
Tennessee places seventh with a score of 4.5. In 2022, 173 work-related deaths were reported, which equates to a fatality rate of 5.7% and a score of 3.8. A score of 8 was given for employee union representation in the state, with 6.3% supported.
Placing eighth is Nebraska, with a score of 4.4. Nebraskans experienced a fatality rate of 5.8% and a score of 3.9 due to the 57 deaths reported. A score of 7.1 was determined based on the 8.1% of employees represented by their unions.
Indiana is the ninth-worst state to work in, receiving a score of 3.8. 156 deaths were reported in 2022, which is equal to a fatality rate of 5% and a score of 3.2. 8.6% of employees received union representation, resulting in a score of 6.9.
North Dakota is the tenth worst state to work in, with a score of 3.6. North Dakotans experienced a death fatality rate of 4.6% and a score of 2.8 based on the 37 deaths that occurred. 7.6% of employees were represented by their unions, leading to a score of 7.4.
Idaho and Texas also have a score of 3.6, placing them joint tenth with North Dakota. Idaho has a death fatality score of 2.7 due to 39 reported deaths. Idaho has a union representation score of 8.2, with 5.6% experiencing support.
Texas has a work-related death fatality score of 2.6 due to 578 work-related deaths reported. The state received a union representation score of 8.6, with 5.1% being supported.
Rhode Island is the best state to work in, with an overall score of 0.4. The state had 7 deaths in 2022, resulting in the best possible fatal injury score of 0. 17.7% of Rhode Islanders experienced union representation, resulting in a score of 2.7.
Jamie Goodwin, an attorney from Duddy, Goodwin & Pollard commented on the findings:
“In many job roles, pressure to reach deadlines or excessive workloads could be the main concern, resulting in the safety of the work environment being neglected. On the other hand, the data shows that accidents are far more common in the workplace than you would think given the shocking fatality rates from the states ranked in the top ten.
“A lower percentage of union representation can be detrimental regarding work discipline or grievances. Unions provide guidance and advice on employment rights and make employees feel more secure by having someone to contact who isn’t directly connected to their workplace. They are typically advocates for equality and support employees in their time of need with work-related issues.”
Sources: U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics; Methodology: Union and fatality data was extracted from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics; The union and fatality data were gathered and converted into scores out of 10. The scores for each factor were averaged to determine the final ranking.
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