North Carolina ranks as 4th worst state for wage theft, study finds

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina is the fourth worst state for wage theft, a study has found.

According to the study from Shirazi Law Firm, North Carolina has 766.08 wage theft violations per 100,000 residents. 84,621 violations with 12,316 employees have been reported by the state.

The study found $10.8 million in agreed back wages have been paid to 10,284 workers in North Carolina. In back wages paid, North Carolina ranks 24th.

The three states with higher wage theft are Indiana at 6,536.93 violations per 100,000 residents, Tennessee at 3,407.57 violations per 100,000 residents, and Ohio at 919.33 violations per 100,000 residents. North Dakota has the lowest wage theft at 34.52 violations per 100,000 residents, according to the study.

“These findings highlight significant regional disparities in wage theft enforcement and recovery across the United States,” Shirazi Law Firm owner Emanuel Shirazi said in a statement. “The substantial differences between states like Indiana and North Dakota suggest varying levels of employer compliance, worker awareness, and enforcement mechanisms.

“Workers should be vigilant about their rights and understand that legal remedies exist when employers fail to pay proper wages,” he continued in his statement.

The study was based on data from the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the law firm.