North Carolina Ranks 41st on List of Best and Worst States to Work in America

Why It Matters:

The study provides insights into the overall work environment in different states, highlighting areas such as job growth, wages, commute times, and remote work options. It offers valuable information for workers seeking to make informed decisions about where to live and work.

The Details:

• The study analyzed eight metrics, including job and GDP growth, union representation, taxes, weekly hours worked, commute times, remote work, and wages.

• Oregon ranked first on the list, while Mississippi ranked last at 51.

• North Carolina's performance on key metrics:

• Job growth rate: 2.2% (same as Oregon, higher than Mississippi)

• GDP growth rate: 1% (lower than Oregon and Mississippi)

• Workers represented by a union: 3.9% (one of the lowest, compared to Oregon and Mississippi)

• Average weekly work: 39.2 hours (higher than Oregon, similar to Mississippi

• Average commute: 25.1 minutes (higher than Oregon, similar to Mississippi)

• Working from home: 16.8% (lower than Oregon, higher than Mississippi)

• Average sales and local tax rate: 7% (similar to Mississippi, lower than Oregon)

• Earnings ratio: 1.32 (higher than Mississippi, lower than Oregon

• North Carolina has the second-lowest union representation in the country, with only 3.9% of workers represented by a union.

• The study may have focused heavily on unionization, which influenced North Carolina's ranking.

• The American Growth Project initiative, created by UNC's Kenan Institute, analyzes local economic activity and provides insights into growth hotspots within states. The Triangle region in North Carolina is expected to grow by 3.0% in 2023.

Conclusion:

The ranking of North Carolina as the 41st best state to work in America provides valuable information for workers considering relocation or job opportunities. While the state performs well in some areas, such as job growth, it lags behind in terms of union representation and tax burden. The American Growth Project initiative offers a more detailed analysis of local economic activity within the state.