Americans may not top the world in hours worked, but we’re definitely in the running, clocking 1,805 hours on average in 2024, up from 1,799 the year before. That’s more hours than most European countries (except Greece and Poland), but a lot less than Mexico or Columbia, which both logged more than 22-hundred hours on average. Of course, not every American’s workload looks the same, and a new report from WalletHub sheds light on which states are carrying the heaviest load.
- To figure out where Americans work the hardest, WalletHub looked at 10 key indicators split into two big categories: direct and indirect work factors.
- Direct work factors include average workweek hours, employment rate, and unused vacation time, while indirect work factors include average commute time, annual volunteer hours and daily leisure time.
- Based on all of that, North Dakota once again leads the nation, thanks to nearly 98% employment, long workweeks, low rate of idle youth, and little unused leisure time.
- Alaska is second, with the longest average workweek (41.6 hours).
- South Dakota rounds out the top three and has the highest employment rate overall.
- Hawaii scored first in indirect work factors, mostly for volunteerism and community engagement.
- Michigan sits at the bottom, ranked last in overall score and direct work factors.
The Top 10 Hardest-Working States in the U.S.
(Check out where your state falls on the list here)
- North Dakota
- Alaska
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Hawaii
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Wyoming
- Maryland
- Nebraska