Louisiana named most workaholic state as southern trend grows

Louisiana has emerged as the most workaholic state in the United States, as a recent study shows workers there endure the longest weekly hours and face higher risks of burnout. The research measured commitment and exhaustion levels across all 50 states, highlighting regional differences and the pressures driving excessive work habits.

Leading states

The analysis gave each state an Employee Workaholism Score using four employment factors: work-life balance, employee engagement, rates of multiple jobholding, and the frequency of online searches for burnout treatment. States with higher scores appear to have more overworked and overstressed employees.

Louisiana scored highest, with residents averaging 36.5 working hours per week-the longest in the US. The state also recorded the lowest work-life balance score, with only 10 out of a possible 100. Approximately 4.8% of its workforce takes on more than one job to make ends meet. Burnout treatment searches were reported at 17 per 100,000 residents, indicating a high level of fatigue.

Southern trend

The majority of the top 10 workaholic states are in the southern region. Kentucky, Texas, Mississippi, and Tennessee all appeared prominently in the rankings. Kentucky placed third overall, with employees working 35 hours per week and 36% reporting high levels of dedication to their jobs. Mississippi and Tennessee also displayed long workweeks and substantial numbers of workers holding multiple positions.

Texas was noted for its particularly low work-life balance score (15), with employees nearly matching Louisiana's weekly working hours. Meanwhile, in Mississippi, 3.8% of residents held two or more jobs, and burnout-related searches reached 16 per 100,000 people each month. Southern states typically featured lower work-life balance scores than those in northern regions.

Multiple jobs

North Dakota stood out as the state with the highest percentage of residents working more than one job, at nearly 8%. While North Dakota's work-life balance score and engagement rate placed it further down the overall list, the high incidence of multiple jobholding highlights a trend of workers seeking additional income in response to local economic conditions.

Alaska, ranking fourth for workaholism, reported that 6.4% of employees work more than one job. The state also had the highest rate of burnout treatment searches among the top 10, suggesting that juggling several roles often takes a toll on well-being.

Income drivers

Analysis found that lower wages were a significant motivating factor behind longer working hours and the prevalence of multiple jobholders, particularly in the South.

"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," said George El-Hage, Founder & CEO, Wave Connect.