The 10 Laziest States in America (And The Most Uptight)

The 10 Laziest States in America (And the Most Hardworking)

Laziest States Research Summary

The laziest state in the U.S. is New Mexico, with an average of 38.2 hours worked and 60.2% of the population participating in the labor force.
The most hardworking state in the U.S. is Maryland, boasting an average commute time of 32 minutes.
Alaska leads with the highest average hours worked, with residents clocking in at 42 hours per week.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the United States, it’s evident that some states excel in various aspects. While some regions are renowned for their academic achievements, productivity, or artistic flair, others have earned a reputation for being less industrious.

To save you the trouble of identifying these states on your own, we’ve compiled a list of the ten laziest states in America based on meticulous research. Read on to discover the rankings and the methodology behind our findings, or check out the hardest working states here.

How We Determined the Laziest States in America

At Zippia, we rely on data to tackle tough questions head-on. For this analysis, we utilized the most recent American Community Survey results, which provide valuable insights into workforce participation and productivity.

After reviewing numerous criteria, we focused on the following metrics to determine the laziest states:

Lowest average hours worked
Shortest average commute time
Fewest workers per household (labor force divided by the number of households)
Highest unemployment rate
Lowest percentage of adults with a college degree

Our rationale was straightforward: a low level of education, minimal work hours, and fewer household contributors likely indicate a lack of productivity within a state.

After collecting data from all 50 states, we ranked each according to the criteria, scoring them from one to fifty. We then averaged these rankings to create a lazy index.

Ultimately, the state with the lowest lazy index earned the title of the “Laziest State in America”: New Mexico.

Explore the detailed chart below to understand more about each state’s position, and if you’re curious, keep reading to uncover the factors contributing to their rankings.

1. New Mexico

In Labor Force: 60.2% Average Hours Worked: 38.2

New Mexico, known as the Land of Enchantment, also ranks as the laziest state. Factors contributing to this designation include a low percentage of bachelor’s degree holders (just under 15%), a low number of workers per household (10th lowest in the nation), and below-average hours worked each week (17th lowest). Essentially, New Mexico exhibits a trend of low productivity across all metrics.

2. Kentucky

In Labor Force: 59.8% Average Hours Worked: 38.5

In Kentucky, there’s a prevalent notion that life moves at a slower pace. The state features a notably low percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree—only 12.8%, the second lowest in the country.

3. Michigan

In Labor Force: 61.5% Average Hours Worked: 37.5

Michigan residents are logging fewer hours at work, averaging just 37.5 hours per week. This, combined with a low number of workers per household, solidifies Michigan’s position on this list.

4. Arkansas

In Labor Force: 59.2% Average Hours Worked: 39.2

Arkansas residents appear to take their time both in education and work, contributing to a generally low workforce participation rate.

5. Alabama

In Labor Force: 58.8% Average Hours Worked: 38.8

Known as the Heart of Dixie, Alabama offers beautiful nature and pleasant weather, but it also has one of the lowest labor force participation rates in the country, leading to more leisure time.

6. Ohio

In Labor Force: 63.6% Average Hours Worked: 37.9

Ohio’s ranking comes from its residents logging fewer hours weekly compared to other states, with an average of just 37.9 hours.

7. Oregon

In Labor Force: 62.5% Average Hours Worked: 37.0

Oregon residents enjoy abundant natural beauty, which contributes to their lower average work hours. While education rates are relatively high, many choose to prioritize outdoor activities.

8. Mississippi

In Labor Force: 58.4% Average Hours Worked: 39.3

Despite high weekly hours worked, Mississippi ranks low due to a shortage of bachelor’s degree holders and a limited workforce participation rate.

9. Idaho

In Labor Force: 63.2% Average Hours Worked: 37.9

Idaho’s charm lies in its industries and hard work; however, its average workweek is below 38 hours, contributing to its place on the list.

10. West Virginia

In Labor Force: 54.3% Average Hours Worked: 38.9

West Virginia ranks lowest in terms of bachelor’s degree holders and workforce participation, although its residents do log a relatively high number of hours worked, which may prevent it from ranking higher.

Get Back to Work. Or Not.

Now that you’ve read through our findings, consider your own work-life balance. If you find yourself in one of these ten states, perhaps it’s time to enjoy some leisure time, knowing that the expectations are relatively low. Enjoy the summer, everyone!

State	Overall Rank	Average Commute To Work (In Min)	Average Hours Worked
New Mexico	1	22	38.2
Kentucky	2	23	38.5
Michigan	3	24	37.5
Arkansas	4	21	39.2
Alabama	5	24	38.8
Ohio	6	23	37.9
Oregon	7	23	37.0
Mississippi	8	24	39.3
Idaho	9	20	37.9
West Virginia	10	26	38.9
South Carolina	11	24	38.5
Tennessee	12	24	38.7
Arizona	13	25	38.3
Indiana	14	23	38.3
Florida	15	26	38.3
Oklahoma	16	21	39.6
Maine	17	24	37.9
Missouri	17	23	38.4
Montana	19	18	38.2
Nevada	20	24	38.3
Pennsylvania	21	26	38.1
Louisiana	22	25	39.9
Rhode Island	23	24	37.1
North Carolina	24	24	38.8
Wisconsin	24	22	38.0
Delaware	26	25	38.0
Vermont	27	22	37.6
Iowa	28	19	38.5
Washington	29	26	38.0
Georgia	30	27	38.9
Utah	30	22	36.8
Wyoming	32	18	40.4
Kansas	33	19	38.9
California	34	28	37.8
New York	34	32	38.4
Connecticut	36	25	37.9
South Dakota	36	17	39.5
Illinois	38	28	38.2
Minnesota	38	23	37.9
Nebraska	40	18	39.1
Texas	41	25	39.8
North Dakota	42	17	40.2
Alaska	43	19	42.0
Massachusetts	44	28	37.6
Hawaii	45	26	38.5
Colorado	46	25	38.7
New Hampshire	47	27	38.3
New Jersey	48	31	38.5
Virginia	49	28	39.0
Maryland	50	32	38.8

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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