Americans Do Not All Work Equally
Work varies a surprising amount depending on where you live in America. This ranking is based on ten key indicators, from average workweek hours to annual volunteer hours, with states ordered from those with the best work ethic—to those with the worst. (WalletHub, Aug 25, 2025)
North Dakota (66.17)
Oil rigs hum across North Dakota’s plains to power average workweeks of 39.6 hours. Farmers and energy workers push through relentless shifts, sustaining an employment rate near 98%. Harsh winters demand resilience—and locals meet the challenge every day.
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
Alaska (63.11)
Alaska tops workweek charts at 41.6 hours, even edging past North Dakota despite WalletHub’s ranking. Over 27% of workers in construction, healthcare, and transportation, boosted by oil projects and federal funding, skip vacations to earn more.
South Dakota (60.81)
The employment rate exceeds 98% and about 3% of youth sit idle. Current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data support this, with unemployment at a record low of 1.9%. Work hours linger at 33.2 hours weekly as of June 2025 (FRED).
WeaponizingArchitecture, Wikimedia Commons
Texas (57.06)
In Texas, effort shows up everywhere—from cattle ranches to software hubs. Folks average 38.7 hours on the job, and around 25% leave vacations unused. Busy economies in Houston and Dallas help maintain that momentum.
Hawaii (56.84)
You’d think islanders would be spending most of their time chilling, but that’s a myth. The truth is that residents are working hard on construction sites or on tourism rebound projects, in addition to emerging industries. On average, that’s 37.5 hours weekly.
Virginia (55.93)
The leading industries—tech, renewable energy, healthcare, and biotech—ensure that 12% of the population juggle multiple jobs with ease, even when the commute eats up an average of 32 minutes daily. People living in Virginia average 37.8 hours weekly.
jeff horne from Richmond, VA, Wikimedia Commons
New Hampshire (55.76)
New Hampshire balances rugged and modern; think of chopping wood one day, and running a startup the next. In total, people put in about 38.2 hours weekly. Winters are long, but they fuel a culture of steady work; only 3.5% of the population remains jobless.
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
Wyoming (54.99)
Life in Wyoming often means long days in the energy, mining, farming, or tourism industries. Residents average 39 hours each week, driven by a desire for independence and grit. With unemployment at just 3.3% per the BLS, work leaves little room for leisure.
Greg Tally - User: (WT-shared) WineCountryInn at wts wikivoyage, Wikimedia Commons
Maryland (54.98)
Government offices and crab boats alike keep Marylanders on their feet. The average workweek is 37.9 hours, because more than 15% of workers juggle multiple jobs. Even with 32-minute commutes, productivity doesn’t falter in this busy state.
Oldlinestate, Wikimedia Commons
Nebraska (53.93)
Nebraskans have a state-wide work week of 38 hours. Corn farmers are the majority, followed by railroad workers, who are also pushing hard, resulting in a 3.0% unemployment rate. Long 34-minute commutes don’t deter them because the cornhusker pride fuels tireless effort across the plains.
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, Wikimedia Commons
Kansas (52.28)
Inhabitants of Kansas work tirelessly, most harvesting wheat or building aircraft. Collectively, the states's work hours per week hit 38.1, and the unemployment rate hovers at 4.7%. Rural dedication runs deep, with farmers rarely pausing to rest.
Quintin Soloviev, Wikimedia Commons
Georgia (51.34)
Georgia’s experiencing a surge in advanced manufacturing, especially in EVs and aerospace. Other players include tech growth, as well as a shift towards clean energy with significant investments in solar, wind, and green hydrogen. Energetic Georgians work 37.7 hours weekly and have a low unemployment rate of 3.4%.
Levan Gokadze (uploader Giorgi Balakhadze), Wikimedia Commons
Tennessee (51.30)
Locals here log 37.6 hours weekly. Tennessee is booming in advanced manufacturing—especially EVs and robotics—while Nashville leads healthcare innovation. Joblessness rates are even lower at 3.6%. Long 30-minute drives don’t slow them down either.
Oklahoma (50.90)
Oklahoma is seeing a manufacturing boom in defense and aerospace, and a gradual energy shift as wind power gains traction alongside traditional oil and gas. The result? Unemployment remains low at 3.1%, and residents average 38 hours of work per week.
Colorado (50.57)
The locals in Colorado clock 38.5 hours weekly. Denver’s tech boom fuels relentless schedules, and the people’s outdoor lifestyles balance intense workloads here. A very small number of residents, about 6%, even leave vacation days unused. They might not need it.
Montana (50.16)
Montanans show grit in every shift, whether it’s guiding tourists through mountain trails or managing cattle herds or financial accounts. Joblessness is just 2.8%. The drive to work might average 28 minutes. At the end of it all, the workweek totals about 36.6 hours, fueled by frontier spirit.
Pruhter~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons
Mississippi (50.12)
One of the leading industries in Mississippi is aerospace and defense manufacturing. However, energy remains strong, with new interest in renewables. These and more sectors hire diligent Mississippians who average 37.4 hours of work per week, in a state with an unemployment rate of only 4.0%.
KimonBerlin, Wikimedia Commons
Iowa (49.80)
In Iowa’s bustling agriculture, energy, tech, and more leading sectors, workers clock in 37.3 hours weekly. The jobless rate remains low at 3.7%, and the long 28-minute commutes aren’t limiting residents from still giving it their all.
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
Minnesota (49.43)
People here work 36.9 hours per week, which is above the national norm. The primary sectors are healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Unemployment stays low at 3.5%. It seems like the Nordic work ethic powers steady output here.
AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons
Alabama (47.79)
Tough Alabamians are working hard in the auto and aerospace markets. And that’s in addition to metals, tech, and logistics, where they key in 37.2 hours per week. Thankfully, only 3.0% stay without jobs.
Maine (47.75)
In Maine, grit is the norm. Picture lobster traps hauled from the sea, woodworking shops buzzing, and snowy commutes that stretch to 27 minutes. Only 3.2% of residents remain jobless, and Mainers average 36.1 hours a week.
Vermont (47.66)
Think maple taps in the snow or handcrafted chairs in Burlington workshops. Vermonters make it work, even with icy 26-minute commutes. With just 2.6% unemployed, the average week clocks in at 35.7 hours. All this is likely fueled by small-town focus and Green Mountain toughness.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
Arizona (47.09)
Desert heat doesn’t stop Arizonaians because folks handle business while facing 28-minute commutes without complaint. Joblessness stands at 4.1%, but productivity remains strong. By Friday, employees in varied sectors clock 35.1 hours, all under the Southwest sun.
John Diebolt, Wikimedia Commons
Utah (46.59)
Ever tried juggling software design in Salt Lake City and skiing on the weekends? Utahns do, and they still average 36.7 hours a week. Commuters spend 26 minutes on average, and only 3.3% are unemployed. No wonder the Beehive State stays buzzing.
Original uploader was user:Skyguy414 at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Wisconsin (45.84)
Wisconsin hums with activity, with workers facing 26-minute commutes, in a state with unemployment numbers low at just 3.1%. Add it up, and you get around 36 hours of work each week. Wisconsin is booming in renewable energy, manufacturing, biosciences, and construction, all industries that appreciate dedication.
Arkansas (45.31)
Drive through Little Rock and you’ll see Arkansans working retail, running mills, or handling rice crops. They’re logging 36.5 hours each week, with 3.7% of the population unemployed. Commuting for nearly half an hour doesn’t faze them. Now let’s skip to the states with total scores below 45.
Cliff from I now live in Arlington, VA (Outside Washington DC), USA, Wikimedia Commons
Idaho (44.42)
From Boise’s tech offices to potato farms, Idahoans don’t shy away from a grind. Unemployment? Just 3.7%. Even those 27-minute drives to work can’t slow them down. And they’re clocking about 36.8 hours a week on average, proof of that famous spud-state tenacity.
Erin Cave, Boise Chamber of Commerce, Wikimedia Commons
Florida (44.10)
Behind the beaches and palm trees, Floridians hustle. Running hotels, harvesting oranges, managing long 30-minute commutes—it’s all part of the mix. With unemployment at 3.7%, the state continues to keep pace, and its average workweek is a solid 36.2 hours.
Eric Statzer, Wikimedia Commons
Connecticut (43.92)
Picture submarines being assembled in Groton or lectures being taught in Hartford classrooms, with weeks adding up to 34.9 hours. Workers spend an average of 27 minutes commuting, and the unemployment rate remains low at 3.8%.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Peter D. Blair, Wikimedia Commons
North Carolina (43.84)
Tar Heels have a competitive streak: just look at the biotech research in Raleigh or the tobacco farms across the state. Joblessness even rests at 3.7%. Even with 28-minute commutes, productivity is steady. By week’s end, workers rack up 36.3 hours with gusto.
Mark Turner, Wikimedia Commons
Missouri (43.36)
This state’s economy is booming in a multitude of sectors, from healthcare to agribusiness, tech, education, and energy solutions, and resolute Missourians log 37 hours weekly holding these jobs. Show-Me State pride drives consistent effort across fields.
Delaware (43.22)
Efficiency is the Delaware way. Workers juggle banking in Wilmington and soybean farming with quick 25-minute commutes. Unemployment rates stand at 4.1%, and the average weekly hours add up to approximately 35.6.
Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
Indiana (42.69)
Commutes in Indiana hover at 27 minutes, but that doesn’t stop Hoosiers. Whether building cars in Indianapolis or testing new cybersecurity protocols, employees everywhere push ahead. With unemployment at 3.6%, their average workweek is 35.9 hours.
Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons
South Carolina (42.47)
Southern charm meets relentless effort in South Carolina. Joblessness is at a low 4.2%, and people spend nearly 29 minutes commuting to work. The weekly hours? 36.4. From textiles to car plants, the Palmetto State workforce doesn’t slow down.
Akhenaton06, Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana (42.29)
Louisianans working across different sectors average 37.1 hours weekly. Unemployment currently stands at 4.5% and is expected to drop even lower. Why? Major projects, such as Meta’s $10 billion data center and Bunge’s $1 billion expansion, are fueling statewide growth.
TheLionHasSeen, Wikimedia Commons
Pennsylvania (41.27)
Steel mills and classrooms alike keep Pennsylvania humming. Commuting times average 27 minutes, and the unemployment rate stands at 4.0%. Still, the Keystone State manages a strong 35.5-hour workweek.
Popscreenshot, Wikimedia Commons
Washington (40.37)
Washington workers bring zest to industries like clean energy and biotech. Hours on the clock? Roughly 35.3 each week, powered by an Evergreen mix of tech-savvy and creative spark. The unemployment rate remains at 4.5%, and commutes stretch to half an hour.
Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts (39.52)
Boston’s coding labs, biotech hubs, and long 29-minute commutes define Massachusetts's daily life. Only 4.8% of the population is jobless, and workers typically work about 35.4 hours a week. Not much, but still worth it.
Spinnick597, Wikimedia Commons
Kentucky (37.40)
Folks in Kentucky generally spend about 28 minutes getting to work, but they don’t let the drive slow them down. With a 4.9% unemployment rate, steady effort defines the Bluegrass spirit. By the end of the week, the total hours come to around 35.8, spent on different jobs.
Anindya Chakraborty, Wikimedia Commons
New Jersey (37.06)
Traffic jams define the tight commutes residents face here, with an average of about 31 minutes. Nonetheless, workers here tackle a wide range of tasks: logistics, pharmaceutical, biotech, and everything in between. Even with 5.3% joblessness, the Garden State pushes through 35.2 hours weekly.
King of Hearts, Wikimedia Commons
Oregon (36.85)
Average weekly hours land at 34.6, partly shaped by 27-minute commutes and a 5.0% unemployment rate. Another factor is that Oregonians juggle industries as varied as logging, brewing, and tech startups. Then, the lifestyle leans outdoorsy, with focus shifting between forests and cities.
Illinois (36.04)
In Illinois, the challenge isn’t lack of effort, but the grind of urban living. Chicago’s 30-minute commutes eat into the day, while shifting industries balance trading floors with farm fields. Workers still log 34.8 hours a week, and the unemployment rate sits at 4.6%.
Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, Wikimedia Commons
New Mexico (35.49)
Desert distances make work here unique. How? The commutes stretch nearly 28 minutes across wide, open roads, and industries like mining or tourism can be seasonal. For these reasons, New Mexicans average 34.7 hours per week, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
Ohio (35.04)
Factories and city offices keep Ohio running, but the Midwest economy has been undergoing a gradual reshaping for years. Buckeyes put in 34.5 hours weekly, with 26-minute commutes on average. A 5.0% unemployment rate signals ongoing adjustments—less about slacking, more about industries in transition.
Sixflashphoto, Wikimedia Commons
California (34.57)
California is constantly in motion, from Hollywood sound stages to Napa vineyards. Joblessness hovers at 5.5% and workers endure the nation’s longest drives—32 minutes on average. Why? Traffic! Still, they work about 35 hours a week.
New York (34.19)
No one doubts New Yorkers’s intensity, but long 33-minute commutes and sky-high costs take a toll. Wall Street traders and upstate farmers alike squeeze in 34.4 hours a week, while unemployment stands at 4.0%. Energy isn’t lacking; it’s simply channeled through New York, one of the most complex economies.
Dietmar Rabich, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada (33.87)
Here, it’s the rhythm of tourism that sets the pace. Casinos, entertainment, and mining all bring cycles of boom and pause. For these reasons, Nevadans put in about 34.2 hours weekly, even while commuting nearly 29 minutes. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. The economic volatility explains the numbers.
Don Ramey Logan, Wikimedia Commons
Rhode Island (33.56)
In the Ocean State, small-scale shapes significant outcomes. Industries like jewelry design or marine services ebb with demand. As a result, the average workweek comes in at 34.3 hours, while quick 25-minute commutes help balance life. With unemployment at 4.8%, Rhode Islanders prioritize adaptability over endless grind.
Kenneth C. Zirkel, Wikimedia Commons
West Virginia (33.18)
Mountain roads stretch commutes to 28 minutes, and coal’s decline has reshaped opportunities. West Virginians still average 34.1 hours of work per week, with an unemployment rate of 3.7%. The shorter workweeks reflect regional struggles.
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant), Wikimedia Commons
Michigan (29.35)
Recovery from manufacturing decline continues to shape Michigan’s workforce. Commuting times average around 27 minutes, jobless rates stand at 5.8%, and the average weekly work hours are 34, the lowest nationwide. The Great Lakes State isn’t short on drive, just navigating tricky economic waters.
