Study: 2022’s Hardest-Working States in America

Staff Report

Thursday, September 1st, 2022

With Americans working an average of almost 1,800 hours per year and leaving an average of 4.6 days off unused last year, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Hardest-Working States in America, as well as accompanying videos and expert commentary.

In order to determine where Americans work the hardest, WalletHub compared the 50 states across ten key metrics. The data set ranges from average workweek hours to share of workers with multiple jobs to annual volunteer hours per resident.

Top 20 Hardest-Working States in America

1. North Dakota

11. Georgia

2. Alaska

12. Colorado

3. Nebraska

13. Tennessee

4. South Dakota

14. Maryland

5. Texas

15. Hawaii

6. Virginia

16. Utah

7. Oklahoma

17. Indiana

8. Kansas

18. Minnesota

9. New Hampshire

19. Alabama

10. Wyoming

20. Arkansas

Key Stats 

  • Alaska has the longest hours worked per week, 41, which is 11 percent longer than in Utah, the state with the shortest at 37. 

  • New York has the longest average commute time, 34 minutes, which is two times longer than in South Dakota, the state with the shortest at 17 minutes.

  • Mississippi has the highest share of workers leaving vacation time unused, 34.70 percent, which is 1.6 times higher than in Ohio, the state with the lowest at 21.90 percent.

  • South Dakota has the highest share of workers with multiple jobs, 8.20 percent, which is 2.3 times higher than in New Mexico, the state with the lowest at 3.60 percent.

To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit: 
https://wallethub.com/edu/hardest-working-states-in-america/52400