PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Despite a recent report calling Oregon one of the worst states to move to, a new WalletHub analysis recently declared it the fifth best for women’s equality.
Researchers evaluated the states based on workplace environments, health and education, as well as political empowerment, according to the report.
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The study highlights Oregon’s educational attainment among advanced degree holders as well as the unemployment rate when compared between men and women. In both of these areas, Oregon ranked the highest for having the smallest disparity between men and women.
“The best states for women’s equality have drastically reduced the disparities between men and women on multiple fronts,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo.
In terms of earnings and the number of women in executive leader ship roles, Oregon was listed as the sixth best.
Overall, Hawaii was the best state for women’s equality, followed by Nevada, Maryland, Maine, and finally Oregon.
Hawaii has no gender pay gap among minimum wage earners in the state, and no gender disparity in the number of political representatives in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. However, there are more men in Hawaii’s state legislature.
Notably, the state of Nevada has one of the smallest gender gaps among those making $100,000 or more per year. It also has close to equal rates of unemployment between men and women, as well as similar rates of economic uncertainty between the two.
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Utah was ranked the worst state for women’s equality, followed by Texas at number 49 and Idaho at 48. Arkansas and Louisiana also filled out the 47th and 46th worst states for women’s equality.
Washington state was identified as having one of the largest income gaps between men and women. California had the smallest.
Researchers found that Oregon was the second best state for workplace environment, and the 14th best for women’s political empowerment. It ranked 28th for education and health.
The report comes at a time when the United States did not even land in the top 40 countries for gender equality, according to 2025 report from the World Economic Forum.
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