Where Work Ethic Goes to Die
Picture this: it’s Monday morning, and while some Americans are already checking emails before their first cup of coffee, millions of others are hitting the snooze button for the third time. According to a WalletHub study, these states have higher numbers of people who work less, aren’t engaged at work, or are spending too much time doing nothing at all. Think it’s just harmless laziness? Think again. The laziest state in the U.S. is New Mexico, with a 38.2 average hours worked and 60.2% of the population in the labor force. But New Mexico isn’t alone in this slacker paradise. From coast to coast, certain states have earned their reputation as places where ambition goes to take a permanent vacation. Get ready to discover which states are basically living in permanent “Monday mode” – and why their residents might just be onto something.
New Mexico: The Land of Enchantment and Eternal Siesta
First up – New Mexico. The Land of Enchantment. And also, apparently, the Land of Laziness. This desert state has managed to snag the top spot on multiple “laziest” lists, and honestly, the numbers don’t lie. Mostly it was because of the low number of bachelor’s degree holders (just under 15 percent), the number of workers per household (the 10th lowest in the country), the average hours worked per week (17th lowest), annnnd, okay, New Mexico pretty much lazed it up in every one of our categories. But here’s the kicker – they have the second lowest employment rate in the nation. It seems that carries over from youth where they also have the second highest idle youth rate in the country. It’s like they’re training the next generation of professional couch potatoes. However, at the same time, New Mexico residents are among those spending the least time on leisure pursuits.
West Virginia: Passing Laziness Down Like a Family Heirloom
Seeing West Virginia on this list is kind of sad. It seems like they make it on all of the lists you don’t want to be on, including this lazy one. The Mountain State has basically turned underachievement into an art form. Last but certainly not least we have West Virginia. The Mountain State actually has the very lowest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders, the very lowest number of workers per household, and the (you guessed it) very lowest number of people in the workforce overall. But wait, there’s more! The real kicker here? They’re passing their laziness on to the next generation. They have some of the idlest youth you’ll find anywhere in the States. It’s like they’ve created a whole culture where showing up is optional. West Virginia is hurting from a double whammy. It has one of the lowest employment rates of any state and the greatest rate of youths who are “idle” — neither working nor in school, according to the WalletHub report.
Nevada: Where Vegas Distracts Everyone
When you think of Nevada, you probably imagine the bright lights of Las Vegas and people grinding 24/7 at the casinos. But apparently, all those flashing lights are having the opposite effect on the locals. The least hardworking states on the list include Nevada, Connecticut, New Mexico, Michigan, New York, and West Virginia. If you look at Nevada, you’ll see that they rank poorly regarding their leisure time. We’re thinking Vegas’s flashing lights might be distracting too many people. It’s ironic really – in a state where tourists come to lose money by working hard at gambling, the residents seem to have checked out of the whole “work” concept entirely. Home to tourist destinations like the Grand Canyon and raucous Las Vegas, Nevada turns out to be a state with less than the hardest-working residents. Maybe they’re all too busy watching other people hustle to remember they should be hustling too. One strong point for Nevadan workplaces is that strong unions exist in Las Vegas for the benefit of workers.
Michigan: Taking “Work-Life Balance” Too Far
Sure, Michigan may be one of the laziest states around, but we’ve got to hand it to them: they seem to know what they’re doing. Their only real “problems” are spending too much time relaxing and not spending enough time in the office. Most Americans may be overworked, but it seems like Michigan is taking a stand. If you ask us, they’re living their best lives. The Great Lakes State has basically decided that life’s too short to spend it grinding away at a desk. And honestly? Maybe they’re onto something here. While the rest of us are burning out trying to climb the corporate ladder, Michiganders are probably out fishing or enjoying their beautiful coastline. Michigan 49. But let’s be real – ranking 49th out of 50 in hard work isn’t exactly something to put on the state tourism brochure.
Oregon: When the Rain Makes You Sleepy
Meanwhile, WalletHub ranked Oregon the 41st hardworking state. WalletHub writer and analyst Chip Lupo told KOIN 6 News, “Oregon’s low ranking among the hardest-working states is the result of a complex mix of work habits and lifestyle choices. Oregon has a penchant for shorter work hours compared to other states with an average workweek of just 37.9 hours and a ranking of 47th in this category.” Think about it – when it’s raining half the year, who wants to be stuck in an office? For example, look at Oregon. Regarding the problem of laziness in the workplace, they’re ranked the worst. In general, it seems like the rainy days are getting to them. The WalletHub analyst noted Oregon received high marks for volunteer efforts, ranking sixth for volunteer hours per resident, and offers a decent work-life balance. “Overall, Oregon offers a respectable work-life balance, however, its low rankings in several work-related metrics suggests there is ample room for improvement in both work engagement and economic activity,” Lupo added. At least they’re giving back to their community, even if they’re not giving their all to their employers.
Connecticut: Rich but Relaxed
Connecticut’s shortfalls center in the workplace. They’re not the worst when it comes to their work ethic, but they sure aren’t doing too hot. Their unemployment rates are higher than the national average. The people who do have jobs aren’t seen as engaged. It’s like they’ve got money but lost their motivation somewhere along the way. Connecticut also ranks 10th worst in the nation when it comes to direct work factors used in the metrics such as a low number of average workweek hours and a high share of the working population who has multiple jobs. Maybe when you’re already well-off, the drive to hustle just isn’t there anymore? Connecticut’s shortfalls center in the workplace. They’re not the worst when it comes to their work ethic, but they sure aren’t doing too hot. Their unemployment rates are higher than the national average. The people who do have jobs aren’t seen as engaged. Sure, there are bright spots, but it’s not the most hardworking place you’ll find.
Illinois: The Prairie State of Procrastination
What’s the scariest part of seeing Illinois on this list? Their poor ranking stems from a 45 out of 50 ranking for average working hours and low share of the working population having more than one job. Added to that a 31 out of 50 ranking for things like high average volunteer hours and low levels and youth idleness, and you average out to the 7th laziest state in the nation. The Land of Lincoln seems to have forgotten that Honest Abe was famous for his work ethic, not his ability to chill. It’s particularly surprising considering Chicago is supposed to be this major business hub. Their poor ranking stems from a 45 out of 50 ranking for average working hours and low share of the working population having more than one job. Added to that a 31 out of 50 ranking for things like high average volunteer hours and low levels and youth idleness, and you average out to the 7th laziest state in the nation. Maybe all those deep-dish pizzas are making people too sleepy to work hard.
Kentucky: The Bluegrass State That Won’t Lift a Finger
In Kentucky, you’ll find that most people don’t volunteer. Ever. They aren’t giving up their time no matter what you say or do. The Bluegrass State has apparently decided that helping others is someone else’s job. Kentucky is not the land of hard workers, at least according to WalletHub’s study. It also ranked dead last among the 50 states for the amount of volunteer hours residents spend per year. Have you ever heard that living in the south just has a slower pace? Sort of like Island Time, or something? Well that’s certainly how it feels in Kentucky. It’s like they’ve taken Southern hospitality and flipped it on its head – “Y’all come back now, but don’t expect me to help you move.” The Bluegrass State made this list because the residents aren’t really looking out for anyone else.
Alabama: Sweet Home Sleepy-bama
Alabama has landed on this list for a number of reasons. One of these is that the unemployment rate is 3.1% and is climbing. On top of that, the residents are also physically inactive. TotalShape found that over 31% of Bamans were physically inactive. The rate only increases for those over 65, where it is above 41%. The Heart of Dixie seems to have a heart that beats a little too slowly. It’s not just about work – apparently, even moving around is too much effort for many Alabamians. The state also ranks low for health, higher education, infrastructure and opportunity, according to U.S. News and World Report. But on the upside, Alabama was among the most affordable states and has some of the best drinking water in the country. Maybe they’re just conserving their energy for something really important – like figuring out what that something is.
Pennsylvania: The Office Was Set There for a Reason
WalletHub ranked Pennsylvania terribly for its workplaces. For example, the people of Pennsylvania aren’t exactly known for being engaged with their work. It kinda makes us think that The Office was set in Pennsylvania for a reason. The Keystone State seems to have lost the key to motivation. The good news for Pennsylvania is that they are engaged with their community once they leave the office. They rank in the top half of states for “indirect work” factors like average volunteer hours per resident. So at least they’re putting their energy somewhere productive, even if it’s not during business hours. Pennsylvania’s economic growth has been “anemic” in the last few years compared with that of the nation, according to a columnist at Pennlive. The state’s number of manufacturing jobs has been shrinking, even as the nation’s manufacturing sector has grown as a whole, he said. That may help explain the low ranking of the state’s residents for hard work.
Ohio: The Aggressively Average State
Ohio manages to be middle of the road in just about everything. It’s not necessarily bad, but it’s not really making a splash either. It’s just kind of there, surrounded by some other equally-forgettable states. The only thing really noteworthy is that they’re infamous for taking their obsession with Ohio State sports too far, but that’s probably just because they don’t have anything better to do. The Buckeye State has perfected the art of being completely unremarkable. They’re not the laziest, but they’re certainly not the hardest working either. It’s like they’ve found the exact middle ground between effort and apathy and decided to set up camp there. Maybe that’s actually a skill in itself – the ability to be so perfectly mediocre that you’re almost impressive in your unimpressiveness.
New York: The City That Never Sleeps (But Apparently Never Works Either)
This one’s truly shocking. New York 50. NEW YORK – WalletHub has released their 2024 list of the Hardest-Working States in America, and it wasn’t good news for the Tri-State area, especially New York. How did the state that supposedly never sleeps end up dead last in hard work? Maybe all that “never sleeping” is actually just staying up late scrolling through social media, not grinding on projects. Think about it – when you’re paying $4,000 a month for a shoebox apartment, maybe the survival instinct kicks in and you realize working harder isn’t going to make the rent any more reasonable. The least hardworking states on the list include Nevada, Connecticut, New Mexico, Michigan, New York, and West Virginia. It’s ironic that the state synonymous with ambition and the American Dream has basically given up on both.
The Real Reason Behind the Laziness Epidemic
Here’s the thing nobody wants to talk about: maybe these “lazy” states are actually the smart ones. Many Americans view hard work as the path to achieving the American Dream. We work so hard, in fact, that we put in more hours at our jobs than several other industrialized countries. The average U.S. worker puts in 1,811 hours per year – 204 hours more than the average in Japan, 279 more than the U.K. and 470 more than Germany. While we’re all running around like hamsters on a wheel, these states have figured out that life is about more than just work. “Even when given the chance to not work as hard, many Americans won’t, as only 48% of workers use all of their vacation days,” WalletHub said. Maybe what we’re calling “laziness” is actually just common sense. When did taking time to enjoy life become such a controversial concept?
The Hidden Benefits of Being “Lazy”
Before you pack your bags and move to North Dakota to escape the lazy reputation, consider this: some of these “lazy” states might actually be onto something revolutionary. “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,” said WalletHub analyst, Cassandra Happe. “Working hard is commendable, but people in the hardest-working states may need to consider taking a break once in a while, as a lack of leisure time can have a negative impact on people’s physical and mental health,” Happe said. What if these states have cracked the code on work-life balance that the rest of us are still desperately trying to figure out? While we’re all burning out trying to prove our worth through exhaustion, maybe they’re actually living healthier, more sustainable lives. Sure, they might not be climbing the corporate ladder as fast, but they’re probably sleeping better at night.
So there you have it – America’s laziest states in all their underachieving glory. From New Mexico’s perpetual siesta to New York’s surprising surrender, these states have mastered the art of doing less and somehow making it work. But here’s the real question: in a world where burnout is becoming an epidemic and mental health is finally getting the attention it deserves, maybe we should be asking ourselves who’s really got it figured out. Are these states lazy, or are they just ahead of the curve? What would happen if we all decided to work a little less and live a little more?
