Mississippi has the sixth-highest rate of sexual harassment charges in America, according to new data.
A study conducted by legal funding experts, Mayfair Legal Funding, investigated US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) data to reveal which states have the highest rate of workplace sexual harassment charges.
The data examined workplace sexual harassment charges between 2018 and 2021 in all 50 states, and a rate was determined by measuring the charges for every 100,000 people in each state to reveal the top 10.
In sixth place is Mississippi, with a rate of 3.91. There was a total of 463 charges filed between 2018 and 2021 and a 5% increase in charges between 2020 and 2021.
Table: States with the highest rate of sexual harassment in the workplace
|
Rank
|
State
|
Charges in 2018
|
Charges in 2019
|
Charges in 2020
|
Charges in 2021
|
Total charges
|
Rate / 100,000 people
|
|
1
|
West Virginia
|
218
|
67
|
42
|
40
|
367
|
5.12
|
|
2
|
Kansas
|
177
|
180
|
95
|
85
|
537
|
4.57
|
|
3
|
Missouri
|
423
|
231
|
213
|
229
|
1,096
|
4.45
|
|
4
|
Nevada
|
246
|
109
|
92
|
96
|
543
|
4.37
|
|
5
|
Alabama
|
247
|
242
|
178
|
172
|
839
|
4.17
|
|
6
|
Mississippi
|
127
|
125
|
103
|
108
|
463
|
3.91
|
|
7
|
Georgia
|
484
|
465
|
349
|
342
|
1,640
|
3.83
|
|
8
|
Tennessee
|
293
|
246
|
226
|
208
|
973
|
3.52
|
|
9
|
Illinois
|
763
|
361
|
328
|
277
|
1,729
|
3.37
|
|
10
|
Arkansas
|
105
|
96
|
92
|
101
|
394
|
3.27
|
The study revealed that between 2018 and 2021, West Virginia had 367 charges of sexual harassment in the workplace, the highest across America, with a rate of 5.12 per 100,000 people. Despite ranking first, the data also revealed an 82% decrease in charges from 2018 to 2021. In 2018, there was a total of 218 charges filled, whereas in 2021, there were 40 charges.
Kansas ranks second, with a rate of 4.57 per 100,000 people. The state has also seen a 52% decrease in charges filed from 2018 to 2021. Overall, there was a total of 547 charges filled.
Missouri had over 1,000 charges filed between 2018 and 2021, more than West Virginia and Kansas combined; however, considering the state’s population, Missouri has a rate of 4.45 per 100,000 people, placing them in third place. By 2021, there was a 46% decrease in charges filed.
In fourth place is Nevada, with a rate of 4.37 per 100,000 people. Overall, there were a total of 543 total charges filed between 2018 and 2021, and the state also saw a 61% decrease in charges filed. In 2020 and 2021, fewer than 100 charges were filed, which could be attributed to increased work-from-home capabilities.
Alabama ranks fifth, with a rate of 4.17 per 100,000 people, with 839 charges filed between 2018 and 2021. The state only saw a 30% decrease between 2018 and 2021; surprisingly, there was only a difference of six charges filed between 2020 and 2021.
Rounding out the top 10 is Georgia in seventh place, with a rate of 3.83; Tennessee in eighth place, with a rate of 3.52; Illinois in ninth place, with a rate of 3.37; and Arkansas in tenth place, with a rate of 3.27.
Speaking on the findings, a spokesperson from Mayfair Legal Funding says:
“The findings highlight that rates have decreased over the years; however, this does not provide clear evidence that rates of sexual harassment are actually decreasing or if victims are simply not filing charges out of fear, for example.”
“The concerning figures in this study highlights why businesses must implement thorough sexual harassment policies and regularly meet with employees to ensure a safe and productive workplace for everyone.”
