The Garden State One of Best States to Work, Study Says

New Jersey is ranked as one of the 10 best states to be employed, according to a study by Oxfam.

The list–which ranks the Best and Worst States to Work in America 2022-picked New Jersey as the eighth best state to hold down a job.

The yearly study looked at wage policies, worker protections and labor organizations, showing minimum wage increases in the Garden State improved its ranking.

The top three states ranked Oregon first, with Oregon finished first, followed by California and Washington. North Carolina ranked dead last.

Here is the list:

The Best States to Work Index: How the states rank overall and by policy area

Number of states to showAll2510

Rank	State	Overall score	Wage policies	Worker protection	Right to organize
1	Oregon	86.72	69.93	96.43	100.00
2	California	85.56	70.14	92.86	100.00
3	Washington	83.33	89.57	78.57	80.00
4	District of Columbia	80.23	76.63	70.24	100.00
5	New York	79.31	67.02	78.57	100.00
6	Massachusetts	76.36	69.02	75.00	90.00
7	Connecticut	75.29	72.61	75.00	80.00
8	New Jersey	74.77	65.04	75.00	90.00
9	Colorado	68.38	70.95	64.29	70.00
10	Illinois	67.77	63.17	53.57	95.00
11	Vermont	66.73	60.58	57.14	90.00
12	New Mexico	65.64	66.20	54.76	80.00
13	Maine	65.57	67.06	53.57	80.00
14	Maryland	63.05	60.74	53.57	80.00
15	Rhode Island	60.66	51.65	57.14	80.00
16	Nevada	60.36	60.27	53.57	70.00
17	Puerto Rico	59.30	38.87	67.86	80.00
18	Minnesota	58.56	53.69	41.67	90.00
19	Hawaii	57.90	44.75	57.14	80.00
20	Arizona	52.05	69.72	33.33	50.00
21	Delaware	51.09	40.24	42.86	80.00
22	Virginia	49.62	40.71	48.81	65.00
23	Ohio	49.09	40.44	26.19	95.00
24	Alaska	43.66	58.10	22.62	50.00
25	Nebraska	43.36	28.20	41.67	70.00
26	Montana	42.85	49.84	22.62	60.00
27	South Dakota	42.23	60.78	22.62	40.00
28	New Hampshire	41.70	20.93	38.10	80.00
29	Florida	37.87	37.38	22.62	60.00
30	Missouri	37.27	45.25	19.05	50.00
31	Michigan	36.04	38.02	30.95	40.00
32	Pennsylvania	33.42	13.76	22.62	80.00
33	Arkansas	29.49	44.56	26.19	10.00
34	West Virginia	29.35	34.84	29.76	20.00
35	Kentucky	26.76	12.74	33.33	40.00
36	Indiana	26.40	5.58	26.19	60.00
37	Wyoming	25.43	21.91	19.05	40.00
38	Wisconsin	25.08	17.92	22.62	40.00
39	Iowa	24.95	17.57	22.62	40.00
40	North Dakota	24.12	18.63	26.19	30.00
41	Tennessee	23.12	9.87	33.33	30.00
42	Louisiana	22.98	8.48	34.52	30.00
43	Idaho	21.44	11.94	26.19	30.00
44	Utah	18.94	8.82	29.76	20.00
45	Oklahoma	18.80	8.45	22.62	30.00
46	Kansas	18.48	4.53	19.05	40.00
47	South Carolina	12.51	2.11	33.33	0.00
48	Texas	11.56	12.24	19.05	0.00
49	Alabama	10.06	6.40	14.29	10.00
50	Georgia	7.52	8.39	11.90	0.00
51	Mississippi	7.11	5.27	0.00	20.00
52	North Carolina	4.55	4.09	8.33	0.00