North Carolina ranks last in 2026 Best States to Work Index

North Carolina has ranked last in the 2026 Best States to Work Index released by Oxfam America. The index evaluates 52 jurisdictions based on 37 policies regarding wages, worker protections, and the right to organize.

Oxfam reported that North Carolina’s minimum wage of $7.25 meets only 19% of the cost of living for a family of four. The state has not increased its minimum wage since 2009, a point of contention between advocates and Republican lawmakers. While lawmakers argue that labor demand has naturally driven pay higher, policy analysts suggest that increasing the minimum wage to two-thirds of the national median could provide an average annual pay increase of $6,100 for a third of the state's workforce.

The bottom five states in the index include North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina. In contrast, the top-ranking jurisdictions, such as California and Oregon, feature higher minimum wages and stronger protections regarding paid leave, heat safety, and collective bargaining.