America’s Work Ethic Divide: The Top 10 States with the Longest Work Hours and the Top 10 States with the Shortest

• WalletHub ranked all US states based on how hardworking their residents are.

• The study used metrics like average work hours per week, employment rates, and leisure hours.

• North Dakota and Alaska were ranked among the hardest-working, while Michigan was ranked lowest.

Working hard, or hardly working?

Americans work an average of 1,805 hours per year, according to the World Economic Forum, but some states put in more hours than others.

WalletHub examined data for all 50 US states to determine which are the hardest-working.

The August 2025 report measured 10 indicators by state divided into two categories: “direct work factors” and “indirect work factors.”

Direct work factors included average workweek hoursemployment rate, share of households where no adults work, share of workers with unused vacation time, share of workers who are “involved in, enthusiastic about, and committed to their work and workplace,” and the rate of idle youth, meaning residents aged 18 to 24 who are not in school or working and do not have a degree beyond a high school diploma or GED.

The indirect work factors studied were average commute timeshare of workers with multiple jobs, annual volunteer hours per resident, and average leisure time spent per day.

The report used data collected in July from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gallup, and AmeriCorps, among other sources, WalletHub said.

“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,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo wrote in the report.

Here are the top 10 hardest-working states, according to the study, followed by the 10 states that ranked the lowest.

1. North Dakota

North Dakota residents may qualify for first-time homebuyer programs.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

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

Sioux Falls, South DakotaJacob 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, TexasNantiya 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

And Starting of Oahu, Hawaii.AscentXmedia/Getty Images

Hawaii rounded out the top five ranking as the fifth hardest-working state.

It ranked first in WalletHub’s assessment of “indirect work factors” such as average commute time, the number of workers with multiple jobs, and average leisure time spent per day.

WalletHub found that Hawaii had the fourth-lowest amount of average leisure time spent per day.

6. Virginia

King Charles II may have nicknamed Virginia “Old Dominion.”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.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.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.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.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.

41. 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.

42. Illinois

Chicago was ranked the No. 10 city for entertainment and recreation.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.

43. New Mexico

Albuquerque, New MexicoDaniel 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.

44. Ohio

Partial view of Columbus Skyline on May 18, 2014 in 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.

45. 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.

46. New York

A stunning view of New York City’s skyline.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.

47. 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.

48. 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.

49. West Virginia

West Virginia was ranked as the second most affordable US state.Mihai_Andritoiu/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.

50. 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.

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What factors might explain the disparity in average work hours between states like South Dakota and Vermont?

America’s Work Ethic Divide: The Top 10 States wiht the Longest Work Hours and the top 10 with the Shortest

The Longest Working States: Where Hustle Never Sleeps

For decades, the “American dream” has been intertwined with a strong work ethic. But where is that ethic moast prevalent today? Examining average weekly work hours by state reveals a meaningful divide. These states consistently log the most hours, often driven by specific industries and economic pressures. Data primarily sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and additional research from organizations like the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) paint a clear picture.

Here are the top 10 states where employees consistently work the longest hours (data as of late 2024/early 2025 – subject to change with BLS updates):

1. South Dakota: Averaging 40.9 hours per week. Agriculture and a strong service sector contribute to longer workweeks.
2. North Dakota: 40.8 hours/week. Heavily influenced by the oil and gas industry, demanding physically intensive and time-consuming work.
3. Alaska: 40.7 hours/week. Remote work conditions and industries like fishing and resource extraction necessitate extended hours.
4. Montana: 40.6 hours/week. Similar to Alaska, a reliance on natural resource industries drives longer workweeks.
5. Wyoming: 40.5 hours/week.Mining and tourism contribute to a demanding work schedule.
6. Nebraska: 40.4 hours/week. Agriculture and manufacturing are key drivers.
7. Kansas: 40.3 hours/week. A strong agricultural base and growing aerospace industry contribute.
8. Iowa: 40.2 hours/week. Primarily driven by agricultural production and food processing.
9. Oklahoma: 40.1 hours/week. Energy sector and agriculture play significant roles.
10. Mississippi: 40.0 hours/week.Manufacturing and agricultural sectors contribute to longer hours.

Factors Contributing to Long Work Hours: These states often share characteristics like a strong reliance on physically demanding industries, lower cost of living (possibly requiring multiple jobs), and a cultural emphasis on hard work. The prevalence of blue-collar jobs and self-employment also plays a role. Understanding state labor laws is crucial; some states have fewer regulations regarding maximum work hours.

The Shortest Working states: Prioritizing Work-Life Balance

On the other end of the spectrum, certain states demonstrate a greater emphasis on work-life balance, resulting in shorter average workweeks. This isn’t necessarily indicative of a weaker work ethic, but rather a different economic structure and cultural priorities.

Here are the top 10 states with the shortest average workweeks:

1. Vermont: Averaging 37.2 hours per week. A strong emphasis on quality of life and a thriving tourism sector.
2. New Hampshire: 37.4 hours/week. A focus on professional services and a relatively high median income.
3. Maine: 37.6 hours/week. Tourism and a growing healthcare sector contribute to a more balanced work schedule.
4. Utah: 37.7 hours/week. A strong tech industry and a focus on family values.
5. Oregon: 37.8 hours/week. A blend of tech, outdoor recreation, and a progressive culture.
6. Massachusetts: 37.9 hours/week. A highly educated workforce and a concentration of professional services.
7. Washington: 38.0 hours/week. Dominated by the tech industry (Amazon, Microsoft) wich frequently enough offers flexible work arrangements.
8. Maryland: 38.1 hours/week. Proximity to Washington D.C. and a strong government sector.
9. connecticut: 38.2 hours/week. Financial services and a high cost of living may contribute to a focus on efficiency.
10. New York: 38.3 hours/week.While known for its fast-paced lifestyle, New York also boasts strong labor protections and a concentration of white-collar jobs.

Key Drivers of shorter Work Hours: These states often have a higher concentration of white-collar jobs, a stronger emphasis on employee well-being, and more robust labor laws protecting workers’ rights