Is your state the hardest-working in America or the laziest? See where it ranks in work race!

Hardest-working states in the US: Whether you're clocking in long hours at the office or juggling multiple jobs, how hard you work may depend on where you live. A new report from WalletHub ranks the hardest-working states in the United States, and leading the pack is North Dakota.

Americans average about 1,805 work hours per year, according to the World Economic Forum, but the WalletHub study, released in August 2025, shows that some states go well above and beyond and have been ranked accordingly, as per a report.

Using 10 key metrics grouped into “direct work factors” and “indirect work factors,” the report looked at everything from average workweek hours to employment rates, commute times, and even how much leisure time residents have, according to Business Insider. Data was gathered from sources including the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gallup, and AmeriCorps, as per the report.


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Direct factors focused on things like how many hours people work each week, how many are employed, how many households have no working adults, how often workers skip taking vacation, how engaged people are in their jobs, and how many young adults (ages 18–24) aren't working, studying, or have more than a high school education, as reported by Business Insider.

Indirect factors included how long people spend commuting, how many juggle multiple jobs, how much time they volunteer, and how much free time they get each day, according to the report.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo noted in the report that "It's undeniable that America has fostered a culture of hard work, with people working longer hours than residents of other developed countries and often leaving vacation time on the table," as quoted by Business Insider.

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The Hardest-Working States in the US

1. North Dakota

At the top of the list, North Dakota took the No. 1 spot, reported Business Insider. Residents in the state work an average of 39.6 hours per week, the fifth-highest in the country and about one-third don’t use all their vacation time, as per the report. North Dakota also boasts the third-highest employment rate in the nation, according to Business Insider.

2. Alaska

Coming in second is Alaska, where workers clock the most hours in the country at 41.6 per week. Nearly 28% of Alaskan workers leave vacation days unused, which has contributed towards its ranking as the second hardest-working state in the US, as per the report.

3. South Dakota

South Dakota secured third place with the highest employment rate nationwide at over 98%, as reported by Business Insider. It also has one of the lowest percentages of “idle youth,” defined as young people aged 18 to 24 who are not in school or working and have no education beyond a high school diploma, as per the report.

4. Texas

In fourth place, Texas stands out for having the second-highest average workweek after Alaska. It also ranked fifth in direct work factors, which include employment rates and worker engagement, according to the report.

5. Hawaii

Rounding out the top five is Hawaii, which claimed first place in the report’s indirect work factors, including commute times, multiple-job holders, and average leisure time. Hawaii residents had the fourth-lowest amount of leisure time per day, as reported by Business Insider.

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Other states in the top 10, as per the WalletHub study, include:

6. Virginia, ranked 10th in direct and 7th in indirect work factors.
7. New Hampshire with the fourth-highest employment rate and the lowest idle youth rate.
8. Wyoming had the third-highest average workweek hours, and residents also use their time outside of work, as they contribute the fifth-highest annual volunteer hours per resident
9. Maryland, placing 13th in direct and 6th in indirect work factors.
10. Nebraska, noted for its fifth-highest employment rate, but also the most daily leisure time per day of any state.

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The Least Hard-Working States in the US

50. Michigan

At the other end of the spectrum, Michigan came in last as the state ranked 50th in several direct work factors, including average weekly hours, employment rate, and the number of engaged workers, as reported by Business Insider. It also had the fifth-lowest employment rate, according to the report.

49. West Virginia

West Virginia followed closely, with one of the highest idle youth rates, as per Business Insider. It was tied with Oklahoma at 43rd in this metric.

48. Rhode Island

Rhode Island was third from the bottom, ranking 48th in volunteer hours and tying for 47th in average weekly work hours, according to Business Insider. However, it had a surprisingly low idle youth rate, tied for second with North Dakota and Massachusetts, as per the report.

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47. Nevada

Nevada, ranked 47th, shared the top spot for highest idle youth rate with Mississippi and Louisiana. It also had the lowest employment rate in the country, as per Business Insider.

46. New York

New York landed at 46th overall, ranking 49th in direct work factors, despite a mid-tier performance in indirect ones.

Other states in the bottom 10, as per the WalletHub study, included:

45. California with the second-lowest employment rate and among the lowest average work hours.
44. Ohio, ranked 45th for direct work factors.
43. New Mexico, with poor performance in indirect metrics like commute times and leisure.
42. Illinois, holding the fourth-lowest employment rate.
41. Oregon, tied with Rhode Island for third-lowest average work hours.

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FAQs

Which US state works the most hours on average?
That title goes to Alaska, as people there average 41.6 hours a week on the job, the highest in the US, as per the Business Insider report.

Which US state has the lowest employment rate?
Nevada holds that spot, and it also ties for the highest idle youth rate, as per the Business Insider report.