Offices across the country have closed to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, forcing millions of Americans to work from home for the first time.
Not all states are easy to work from home in, however. Unequal internet speeds, electricity costs, and access to jobs where telecommuting is even possible all affect how employees working from home are faring across the nation.
Personal finance site WalletHub has rated all 11 states and the District of Columbia based on how easy it is to work from home during the coronavirus crisis. Each state's work environment was rated based on the share of its workers that can telecommute, its households' internet access and cybersecurity, and its living environment (based on the cost of living and the comfort of residential spaces).
Not all states are easy to work from home in, however. Unequal internet speeds, electricity costs, and access to jobs where telecommuting is even possible all affect how employees working from home are faring across the nation.
Personal finance site WalletHub has rated all 11 states and the District of Columbia based on how easy it is to work from home during the coronavirus crisis. Each state's work environment was rated based on the share of its workers that can telecommute, its households' internet access and cybersecurity, and its living environment (based on the cost of living and the comfort of residential spaces).
10. Though the District of Columbia received high marks for its internet access and telecommuting opportunities, it scored second-lowest in the country for the size and comfort of living spaces.
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| © Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 53.99/100
Work environment rank: 4/51
Living environment rank: 50/51
9. Wyoming ranked poorly for both its work and living environments.
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| © Jeff R Clow/Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 53.55/100
Work environment rank: 45/51
Living environment rank: 46/51
8. Iowa did too.
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| © Monte Goodyk/Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 53.49/100
Work environment rank: 38/51
Living environment rank: 42/51
7. Rhode Island has the fourth-highest average electricity cost in the country, according to WalletHub's findings, making it an expensive state to work from home in.
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| © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock |
Overall work from home score: 53.20/100
Work environment rank: 31/51
Living environment rank: 47/51
6. North Dakota received the country's fourth-lowest working environment score for its low share of jobs where working from home is possible, poor internet access, and poor cybersecurity.
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| © David Harmantas/Shutterstock |
Overall work from home score: 51.66/100
Work environment rank: 48/51
Living environment rank: 27/51
5. Oklahoma has one of the lowest proportions of households with internet access in the country.
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| © John Elk/Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 51.61/100
Work environment rank: 47/51
Living environment rank: 33/51
4. Arkansas received the second-lowest ranking for work environment.
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| © Jonathannsegal/Shutterstock |
Overall work from home score: 49.53/100
Work environment rank: 49/51
Living environment rank: 29/51
3. Only one state has a lower share of its population working from home than Mississippi.
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| © Sean Pavone/Shutterstock |
Overall work from home score: 47.45/100
Work environment rank: 50/51
Living environment rank: 15/51
2. Electricity costs in Hawaii are among the highest in the country.
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| © M Swiet Productions/Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 46.84/100
Work environment rank: 18/51
Living environment rank: 51/51
1. Alaska earned the lowest overall score of any state, with the worst ranking for its work environment and the fourth-worst living environment.
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| © Blue Poppy/Getty Images |
Overall work from home score: 40.56/100
Work environment rank: 51/51
Living environment rank: 48/51
See more at: Business Insider
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