California, DC, and New York Lead U.S. for Workers in 2026, Oxfam Finds

Oxfam’s 2026 Best States to Work Index ranks California, Washington, D.C., and New York as the top U.S. states for wages, protections, and the right to organize, with caregiving protections added this year. The index scores states by wage adequacy, worker protections (like paid family leave and anti-harassment rules), and organizing rights, highlighting wide variation across the country and suggesting stronger federal measures—like raising the federal minimum wage—could lift nationwide well-being.