These are the top 10 U.S. states for workers' rights, says new report—8 of them have a minimum wage over $15

If strong worker protections are one of your top workplace criteria, you might want to start applying to roles in California.

Oxfam's 2026

State policymakers "can make changes that really impact workers," according to Cobb, but "people do have power," too. She points to Utah's recent repeal of its

Union support is on the rise among Americans: Nearly half (47%) want U.S. labor unions to have more influence than they do now, which marks a record high in the past 25 years, according to a — people who are simultaneously caring for their elderly relatives and their children — many workers struggle to balance their caregiving duties with their work schedule.

"A lot of times, people can be discriminated against for those caregiving responsibilities," Cobb says, which is why states like Maine and Minnesota have enacted protections for family caregivers.

"Policies like that make these states stronger, because they are really looking out for the working families that live in their states," she continues.

Based on Oxfam's research, these are the top 10 U.S. states with the best wages, policies and protections for workers, based on policies and laws in effect by July 1, 2026.

1. California

Minimum hourly wage: $16.90

Overall score: 80.23

2. District of Columbia

Minimum hourly wage: $18.40

Overall score: 78.74

3. New York

Minimum hourly wage: $16.00

Overall score: 77.78

4. Illinois

Minimum hourly wage: $15.00

Overall score: 73.54

5. Oregon

Minimum hourly wage: $15.55

Overall score: 71.4

6. Washington

Minimum hourly wage: $17.13

Overall score: 67.7

7. Maine

Minimum hourly wage: $15.10

Overall score: 65.86

8. Colorado

Minimum hourly wage: $15.16

Overall score: 65.01

9. Connecticut

Minimum hourly wage: $16.94

Overall score: 64.08

10. Minnesota

Minimum hourly wage: $11.41

Overall score: 63.77

Oxfam's data demonstrates that "state by state, things are very different for workers," Cobb says.

"We are in one country, yet if you cross a border, the laws are vastly different in terms of labor," she says. "It makes a big impact on people's daily lives and their ability to afford their basic needs or to take care of their loved ones. "

States with strong wages and worker rights and protections also provide a better quality of life for their residents, according to Cobb.

Those states "have less people in poverty. They have less infant mortality. They have a higher GDP per capita," she says. It shows a positive correlation "between taking care of your workers and their well-being. "

One policy change that could help workers across the country is raising the federal minimum wage, Cobb says. The last time the U.S. government found that 62% of Americans supported a $15 federal minimum.

"It's something that everyone can get behind," Cobb says.