By Katie Kather

St. Paul Pioneer Press

In the past decade, Minnesota has become a better state for women, according to a new report by the Institute of Women’s Policy Research.

The research shows Minnesota is the best state for women, having made progress in key areas since 2004.

Minnesota scored among the top 10 states in employment and earnings, poverty and opportunity, health and well-being, political participation, and work and family. It did not score as well in reproductive rights, ranking 16th in that category.

“In order to qualify as one of the best states, you had to score in the top 10 … and never in the bottom half,” according to study director Cynthia Hess.

Minnesota was ranked the best state for women’s health and well-being, with low rates of heart disease deaths and diabetes.

It also scored high in political participation, with women holding 33 percent of seats in the state Legislature.

About 34 percent of women in Minnesota have a bachelor’s degree or higher, an increase of about 8 percentage points since 2000.

In income equality, the state ranks a bit above average. Minnesota women who work full-time, year-round earn 80 cents on the dollar compared with similarly employed men. Nationally, women earn 78.3 percent of what men earn, the study showed.

Researchers have been collecting data since 1994 and publishing highlights every few years, but this is the first comprehensive report since 2004.