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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: theking on September 03, 2025, 11:46:24 PM
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The 10 hardest-working states in the US — and the 10 states that work the least
Hardest-working:
1. North Dakota
A sunny day in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota, with card parked in front of buildings
Grand Forks, North Dakota. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images
North Dakota earned WalletHub's distinction of the hardest-working state in the US due to several factors. It has the third-highest employment rate in the US and the fifth-highest average workweek hours of any state at 39.6 hours a week. In addition, about one-third of workers in North Dakota don't use all of their vacation time.
2. Alaska
The skyline of Alaska
Anchorage, Alaska. Blue Poppy/Getty Images
On average, residents of Alaska work more hours than any other state at 41.6 hours a week. Around 27.5% of workers in Alaska also don't use all of their vacation time, contributing towards its ranking as the second hardest-working state in the US, according to WalletHub.
3. South Dakota
Aerial View of Sioux Falls, South Dakota at Sunset
Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
South Dakota has the highest employment rate of any state at over 98%, and more than 6% of workers in South Dakota have multiple jobs. Per WalletHub, it also has the fifth-lowest share of "idle youth" — young people ages 18 to 24 who are not in school or working and don't have an education beyond a high school diploma.
4. Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas. Nantiya Rattanatum/Getty Images
Texas has the second-highest average workweek hours behind Alaska. It placed fifth in WalletHub's ranking of "direct work factors," which include rates of employment, unused vacation time, and idle youth.
5. Hawaii
Oahu, Hawaii.
Oahu, Hawaii. AscentXmedia/Getty Images
Hawaii rounded out the top five ranking as the fifth hardest-working state.
6. Virginia
An aerial view of Williamsburg, Virginia.
Williamsburg, Virginia. Sean Pavone/Shutterstock
WalletHub ranked Virginia 10th in direct work factors and seventh in indirect work factors, making it the sixth hardest-working state overall.
7. New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire. Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock
New Hampshire's employment rate was the fourth-highest in the US. It also featured the lowest rate of idle youth. At the same time, New Hampshire residents were found to have the third-highest average amount of leisure time spent per day, placing it seventh in WalletHub's overall ranking of hardest-working states.
8. Wyoming
Aerial view of Casper, Wyoming.
Casper, Wyoming. Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock
Wyoming had the third-highest average workweek hours, tied with Louisiana. Workers in the state also make ample use of their time outside of work with the fifth-highest annual volunteer hours per resident and fifth-highest average leisure time spent per day.
9. Maryland
Cumberland, Maryland.
Cumberland, Maryland. Kosoff/Shutterstock
Maryland was ranked 13th in WalletHub's direct work factors and sixth in indirect work factors, placing it ninth in the overall ranking.
10. Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska skyline
Lincoln, Nebraska. John Coletti/Getty Images
WalletHub found that Nebraska, the 10th hardest-working state, featured the fifth-highest employment rate in the US while its residents also enjoyed the highest average leisure time per day of any state.
Least hardest-working:
10. Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon. © Allard Schager/Getty Images
Ranked as America's 10th least hardworking state by the WalletHub study, Oregon tied with Rhode Island as having the third-lowest average number of work hours a week in the country.
9. Illinois
A view of the Chicago skyline with the Chicago River running down the middle of the frame.
Chicago, Illinois. Moses P/Shutterstock
WalletHub found Illinois to have the fourth-lowest employment rate in the country, contributing to its ranking as the 42nd most hardworking state.
8. New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Daniel A. Leifheit/Getty Images
New Mexico, which was ranked 43rd out of all 50 states in the study, took the 44th spot for indirect work factors, which included average commute time, the number of workers with multiple jobs, and average leisure time spent per day.
7. Ohio
columbus ohio
Columbus, Ohio. Raymond Boyd/Getty Images
Ohio, the 44th most hardworking state, or seventh least hardworking state, was ranked 45th for direct work factors by WalletHub.
6. California.
The sun rising and reflecting on buildings in downtown Oakland, California.
Oakland, California. Thomas Winz/Getty Images
California had the second-lowest employment rate in the country. The state also tied with Connecticut for the fourth-lowest average number of work hours a week in the WalletHub study.
5. New York
New York City's skyline.
New York, New York. phototrip2403/Shutterstock
New York came 49th in WalletHub's direct work factors ranking and 21st in indirect work factors, earning it the 46th place in the overall ranking.
4. Nevada
The Las Vegas Strip and Bellagio Water Fountain Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Las Vegas, Nevada. George Rose/Getty Images
Nevada, which was ranked as the fourth least hardworking state, is tied in the top spot with Mississippi and Louisiana for the highest rate of idle youth and has the country's lowest employment rate out of all 50 states.
3. Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island. Shobeir Ansari/Getty Images
Ranked as the third least hardworking state, Rhode Island ranked 48th in average volunteer hours per resident and tied in 47th place with Oregon for average workweek hours.
However, the state was also ranked as having the second-lowest idle youth rate in the country in a tie with North Dakota and Massachusetts.
2. West Virginia
charleston, west virginia
Charleston, West Virginia. Mihai_Andritoi u/Shutterstock
West Virginia, which was ranked as the second least hard-working state, had some of the highest idle youth rates in the country, — when compared to other states, WalletHub ranked it as 43rd in a tie with Oklahoma.
1. Michigan
An aerial view of Jackson, Michigan.
Jackson, Michigan. DenisTangneyJr/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Michigan was ranked as the least hardworking state, thanks to direct work factors like average work hours per week, employment rate, share of households where no adults work, and share of engaged workers, among others, where it ranked 50th in the country.
The state also had the fifth-lowest employment rate, with WalletHub ranking it 46th in the country.