UNDATED – With Women’s Equality Day around the corner and the U.S. ranking just 43rd for gender equality worldwide, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best & Worst States for Women’s Equality in 2024, as well as expert commentary, to determine where women receive the most equal treatment in American society.
WalletHub compared the 50 states across 17 key metrics. The data set ranges from the gap between female and male executives to the disparity in unemployment rates for women and men to the income gap.
South Dakota ranked 27th overall, faring well in Education and Health where it was 14th and poorly in Political Empowerment where it scored 37th.
| Best States for Women’s Equality | Worst States for Women’s Equality |
| 1. Hawaii | 41. Indiana |
| 2. California | 42. Alabama |
| 3. Minnesota | 43. North Dakota |
| 4. Maine | 44. Oklahoma |
| 5. New Mexico | 45. Georgia |
| 6. New York | 46. Missouri |
| 7. Oregon | 47. Idaho |
| 8. Massachusetts | 48. Wyoming |
| 9. Rhode Island | 49. Texas |
| 10. Maryland | 50. Utah |
Best vs. Worst
- In every state, women earn less than men. Rhode Island has the lowest gap, with women earning 0.40 percent less, whereas Utah has the highest, 26.90 percent.
- In nearly every state, women represent the highest share of minimum-wage workers. Alaska, Hawaii and North Dakota have an equal ratio of women to men. Delaware and Georgia have the highest minimum-wage workers gap, at 70.00 percent.
- Connecticut has the highest unemployment-rate gap favoring women, with 1.40 percent more unemployed men. Mississippi has the highest gap favoring men, with 1 percent more unemployed women. The unemployment rate is equal for men and women in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.
- In nearly every state legislature, male lawmakers outnumber their female counterparts. Nevada has the highest gap favoring women, with 52.00 percent more women. West Virginia has the highest gap favoring men, with 86.44 percent more men.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-for-women-equality/5835
