New study names Washington best state for working families during COVID-19

A new study has ranked Washington state first in the nation for working families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study was conducted by Oxfam, a global organization that says its mission is to end the injustice of poverty.

Oxfam sought to determine how each state is helping working families cope with the challenges of the pandemic by analyzing each of the workers’ protections, health care options and unemployment support in each state.

Workers protections’ made up 45% of a state’s score, health care made up 20% of a state’s score and unemployment support made up 35% of a state’s score.

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Oxfam’s index examined 27 data points among the three main categories to calculate the scores.

The data collected was based on policies and laws in effect from Feb. 15 to July 1 and includes all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Here’s how each category was defined:

Worker protections: Are states taking proactive measures to protect workers and their communities amidst a pandemic that involves a deadly airborne virus?

Healthcare: How are states protecting their residents’ health during a pandemic, especially given the limitations of a health insurance system often linked to employment?

Unemployment supports: How are states accommodating the millions who are suddenly, through no fault of their own, unemployed and without a steady income?

Washington finished with an overall score of 76.41, beating second place New Jersey by over four points. Washington was ranked second in worker protections, tenth in healthcare and first in unemployment supports.

“This crisis has shined a light on the importance of strong worker protections and the far reaching impacts of income inequality,” Gov. Jay Inslee said about the study in a news release. “We must continue to do whatever we can to ensure that workers and families have what they need.”

Click here for the full report from Oxfam.

Cox Media Group