NJ Among Top 10 Best States For Remote Workers: New Study

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey is among the states with the best environment to help people successfully work from home, according to a new study.

The study, published by energy experts at ElectricityRates.com, determined which U.S. states are most reliable for remote workers by looking at earning potential and power outages. Researchers compiled the list by using data from the FEMA National Risk Index, Energy.gov, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The study "aims to shine a light on the intricate dynamics between extended power outages and the hurdles faced by remote workers," according to the company's website.

New Jersey earned a spot at No. 10 on the list. In the Garden State, remote workers earn nearly $63,000 annually. The state also experiences an average of one power outage per year, according to the study.

According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 22 million employed adults in the United States, or 14 percent, work from home full-time. Additionally, more than one-third of U.S. workers who can work remotely do so all the time.

By 2025, it’s projected that more than 1 in 5 Americans will work remotely.

These are the top 10 best states for remote workers, according to salary and number of annual power outages:

1. New York
2. New Hampshire
3. Vermont
4. Arizona
5. Wyoming
6. Hawaii
7. Tennessee
8. Massachusetts
9. Nevada
10. New Jersey

The worst states for remote workers were:

1. Mississippi
2. Arkansas
3. Oklahoma
4. Georgia
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
7. Missouri
8. Texas
9. Louisiana
10. North Carolina

According to the study, Maine, Alaska and Louisiana topped the list for the most power outages per year. The longest outages were reported in Louisiana, Maine and West Virginia.

Factors that contributed to the outages were severe weather, natural disasters, transmission interruptions or vandalism. Another major contributor to outages is falling tree limbs. Many of the states with a high number of outages are highly forested, the study said.

"Moving forward, targeted investments and policy interventions are essential to address these challenges and foster a robust remote work landscape nationwide," researchers said.

See the full study online.