Washington has held the top ranking since 2019.
By WA Governor’s Office | Press Release
Washington state was ranked as the best state in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in a new report released Monday night. Washington has held the top ranking since 2019.
The publication annually ranks all 50 states across a myriad of categories, such as health care, opportunity, the economy and education. Washington ranked first for broadband access and GDP growth, as well as tying for first for government credit rating score and ranking in the top ten of five other categories.
“I am so happy for the people of Washington to take home this honor again. It takes all 7.6 million of us to make this state the dynamic place it truly is. Washingtonians are motivated to lead and innovate in all aspects of our society, in labor, business, education, health, and so much more,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “It was that same spirit that helped us bounce back from being the first state in the nation hit by COVID-19, and we are on our way to a robust recovery because of our unique attributes.”
Washington has regularly ranked at or near the top in additional national rankings over the past few years for economy, business and workers for publications such as CNBC and WalletHub. Last year, Oxfam America ranked Washington the best state to work during the COVID-19 pandemic based on worker rights and protections. This year the governor proposed an additional worker protection bill for the currently ongoing 2021 legislative session.
Washington’s infrastructure and economy helped secure the report’s top honor. The state ranked second in energy, with 46 percent of the state’s energy coming from renewable energy sources, as opposed to a national average of just 11 percent. Combined with third and fourth place growth and business environment rankings, the report is evidence that a clean energy economy goes hand-in-hand with a prosperous economy.
Read the full report here.
Author: Mario Lotmore
