American Work Culture: The Most Workaholic States
According to a November 2025 report on American work culture, Louisiana is the most workaholic state in the country. The study by the digital business‑card provider Wave Connect examined all 50 states based on job commitment levels and burnout indicators.
- Louisiana is the most workaholic state in America, with residents clocking the longest 36.5-hour workweeks.
- Southern states dominate the workaholism rankings, as Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee all appear in the top 10.
- North Dakota residents hold multiple jobs at the highest rate, with nearly 8% working more than one position to make ends meet.
The research analyzed each state using four labor factors: work-life balance scores showing how much time residents have outside work, employee engagement rates reflecting how invested people are in their jobs, multiple jobholder rates tracking those working more than one position, and burnout treatment search volumes measuring how often people look for help recovering from overwork. Each state received an Employee Workaholism Score, where higher numbers indicate potential stress and overcommitment among the workforce.
Here’s a look at the top 10 most workaholic states in the US:
| State | Work-Life Balance Score | Employee Engagement Rate (%) | Multiple Jobholder Rate (%) | Monthly Burnout Treatment Searches per 100K | Employee Workaholism Score |
| Louisiana | 10 | 36 | 4.8 | 17 | 86 |
| Arizona | 30 | 35 | 5.4 | 24 | 65 |
| Kentucky | 32 | 36 | 5.2 | 24 | 58 |
| Alaska | 56 | 33 | 6.4 | 30 | 55 |
| Texas | 15 | 35 | 4.4 | 21 | 50 |
| Mississippi | 34 | 35 | 3.8 | 16 | 49 |
| Idaho | 51 | 34 | 5.7 | 30 | 47 |
| North Dakota | 28 | 34 | 7.8 | 35 | 46 |
| Tennessee | 40 | 35 | 4.4 | 24 | 45 |
| Colorado | 70 | 33 | 6.2 | 41 | 44 |
You can access the complete research findings here.
1. Louisiana
- Work-Life Balance Score: 10 out of 100
- Employee Engagement Rate: 36%
- Multiple Jobholder Rate: 4.8%
- Burnout Treatment Searches per 100K: 17
- Employee Workaholism Score: 86
Louisiana takes first place as America’s most workaholic state. Residents here spend 36.5 hours per week on the job, the longest workweek in the nation. This means they have the least time left outside their jobs for personal activities or rest. Nearly 5% of workers in Louisiana hold multiple jobs, which is a high rate considering the long working hours.
2. Arizona
In Arizona, employees spend 35.1 hours at work every week, leaving them with just 84 hours for personal life. That’s barely 1.4 hours more than Louisiana’s strained schedule, and it remains below the national average. The state also shows a 5.4% multiple jobholder rate, with more than 1 in 20 residents taking on at least two positions to cover living expenses.
3. Kentucky
Kentucky ranks third among America’s most workaholic states. Residents here work 35 hours weekly, more than most Americans. They also show more dedication to work than others, with 36% reporting they love what they do at their job. Like in Louisiana and Arizona, about 5% of the workforce in Kentucky has multiple jobs, indicating that many are taking on extra work to meet financial needs.
4. Alaska
Alaska is also on the list with 34-hour workweeks. Employees here are not as enthusiastic towards their work as others in the ranking, but 6.4% of them still hold more than one job. This may help explain why Alaskans search for burnout treatment methods online more frequently, as multiple jobs lead to stress and exhaustion.
5. Texas
Texas rounds out the top five workaholic states. The region records the second-lowest work-life balance score, as most employees here have to spend nearly 36 hours at work every week. Despite long workweeks, about 35% of Texas residents report high commitment towards their work, while 4.4% hold multiple jobs.
George El-Hage, Founder & CEO of Wave Connect, commented on the study.
“Most of the workaholic states sit in the South, and that’s not necessarily because people there love working more than anyone else. It’s often about income. Wages run lower in these states, so people work longer hours or take second jobs just to pay for basics like rent, food, and bills. You see the opposite pattern up North. States in the Northeast pay higher salaries, and workers there rank much lower for workaholism. When you make enough from one job, you don’t need to stretch yourself thin.”
