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Where To Work? Study Lists Best, Worst States
Delaware Tops List

POSTED: 5:59 am PDT October 26, 2005
UPDATED: 6:33 am PDT October 26, 2005

AMHERST, Mass. -- A study by political economists at the University of Massachusetts ranks Delaware the top state in the nation measured by how it treats its workers.

The study gives Louisiana the lowest ranking on a work environment index.

The "Decent Work in America" study, released Tuesday by UMass Amherst's Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), compares states based on 2004 data covering average pay; job opportunities; benefits; percentage of low-income workers; gender equity; and ability to unionize.

PERI researchers said their work environment index is the first to evaluate worker climate as opposed to business climate on a state-by-state basis.

Just behind Delaware near the top of the rankings were New Hampshire, Minnesota, Vermont and Iowa.

Each state received a ranking on a scale of 1 to 100 in three categories -- job opportunities, job quality and workplace fairness -- that were then averaged out to determine the state's total score.

Delaware, at the top of the list, received a total score of 89 and Louisiana, at the bottom, received a total of 31.

After Louisiana, the lowest-ranking states were Texas, Arkansas, Utah and South Carolina.

Authors of the study said they found a direct correlation between the quality of a state's environment for workers and its economic health.

States ranking high on the list generally have faster economic growth and lower poverty rates, and conversely, states at the bottom of the list tend to have slower economic growth and higher poverty rates.

Best States For Worker Environment

1. Delaware
2. New Hampshire
3. Minnesota
4. Vermont
5. Iowa

Worst States For Worker Environment
45. Arizona
46 - 48. Mississippi, South Carolina, Utah (tied)
49. Arkansas
50. Texas
51. Louisiana