By Sarah Roebuck
Editorial Staff
Americans are known for their hard work, averaging 1,799 hours on the job each year, according to the World Economic Forum. To put that in perspective, that’s 456 hours more than the average German worker, but 408 hours less than workers in Mexico.
To find out where Americans work the hardest, WalletHub analyzed all 50 states using 10 key indicators. These include factors like the average workweek hours, the percentage of workers holding multiple jobs and the average daily leisure time.
The data for this ranking were gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Travel Association, Gallup, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and AmeriCorps as of July 29, 2024, according to WalletHub.
The top 10 hardest-working states were ranked as follows:
- North Dakota
- Alaska
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- South Dakota
- Maryland
- Texas
- Colorado
- New Hampshire
- Kansas
Closer look
According to WalletHub, North Dakota was ranked the top hardest-working state in part due to having the highest employment rate in the nation at over 98%. Additionally, workers aged 16 to 64 clock in an average of 39.7 hours per week, the third-highest in the country.
North Dakota also keeps both adults and young people busy, WalletHub states. The state has the fifth-lowest percentage of households with no working adults and the lowest percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds without higher education who are neither in school nor working.
Alaska ranked second in the nation for hardest-working residents, with an average workweek of 41.6 hours—the highest in the U.S. and the only state where the average exceeds 40 hours, according to WalletHub.
Additionally, 27.5% of Alaskan workers leave vacation time unused, placing the state 12th for unused leave. Alaska also has the ninth-highest rate of multiple jobholders and the 10th-lowest percentage of households with no working adults.
Nebraska came in third among the hardest-working states, with 7.4% of workers holding multiple jobs—the third-highest rate nationwide, WalletHub states. The state also has the second-lowest percentage of “idle youth” (ages 18 to 24 not in school or working), showing young adults’ commitment to advancing their education or careers.
Additionally, Nebraska residents rank fifth in the nation for volunteer hours per capita, demonstrating a strong dedication to helping others.