New York ranked among the least hard-working states in America

Is New York among the hardest-working states in America? Apparently not, according to a new WalletHub study.

WalletHub wanted to see which states across the country were the hardest- and least hard-working. To do this, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 10 indicators, ranging from average workweek hours to the share of workers with multiple jobs to the average leisure time spent per day.

"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," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo said.

Here is what to know about New York's ranking.

Why is NY among the least hard-working states?

According to WalletHub, New York is among the least hard-working

states in America, as it scored the No. 43 spot, with an overall score of 33.04.

New York ranked No. 45 for the direct work factors and No. 24 for the indirect work factors.

The Empire State also tied for the No. 44 spot for the lowest average workweek hours with Massachusetts.

WalletHub's 10 hardest-working states

Source: WalletHub

1. South Dakota
2. North Dakota
3. Alaska
4. Hawaii
5. Wyoming
6. Nebraska
7. Texas
8. New Hampshire
9. Tennessee
10. Georgia

WalletHub's 10 least hard-working states

• No. 50: Michigan
• No. 49: Oregon
• No. 48: New Jersey
• No. 47: Ohio
• No. 46: Nevada
• No. 45: Rhode Island
• No. 44: California
• No. 43: New York
• No. 42: West Virginia
• No. 41: Pennsylvania

How WalletHub assessed hardest-working states

To determine the hardest-working states in America, WalletHub compared all 50 states across two dimensions: direct work factors and indirect work factors.

The direct work factors category analyzed these factors:

• Average workweek hours
• Employment rate
• Share of households where no adults work
• Share of workers leaving vacation time unused
• Share of engaged workers
• Idle youth

The indirect work factors category analyzed these factors:

• Average commute time
• Share of workers with multiple jobs
• Annual volunteer hours per resident
• Average leisure time spent per day

Data used to create the ranking was collected as of July 27, 2026, and was sourced from multiple entities, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Travel Association and Gallup.

—Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York State. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't helpfamilies with missing loved ones. She can be reached at [e-mail].

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: New York ranked among the least hard-working states in America