Maryland's Ranking in a National Report
Maryland ranked 14th in WalletHub's 2026 list of the hardest-working states in America, the personal-finance company announced Monday. The report compared all 50 states across 10 metrics, including average weekly work hours, employment rates, the share of workers holding multiple jobs, and the amount of leisure time residents get each day.
According to Baltimore News, Maryland placed second nationwide for average commute time. The state ranked 26th for average workweek hours and 25th for employment rate. It also ranked 18th for the share of workers with multiple jobs, 20th for annual volunteer hours per resident, and 11th for average leisure time spent per day.
Top and Bottom States
South Dakota topped the list as the nation's hardest-working state, WalletHub said, citing its high employment rate and the share of workers with multiple jobs. According to CBS News, the "hardest working" residents in the U.S. were said to be in South Dakota, where workers are more likely than in most areas to have multiple jobs; North Dakota, where overall employment numbers are high; and Alaska, where the average workweek is 41.4 hours a week, more than any other state.
CBS News also reported that Michigan comes in last place in the ranking. Despite Michigan's history of factory work and the automotive industry, the percentage of those aged 16 and older in the workforce helped pull down Michigan's overall ranking. The report compiled data from government and nonprofit organizations, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Travel Association, Gallup, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and AmeriCorps.
Methodology and Metrics
The WalletHub ranking, published Monday, includes average workweek hours, the share of workers who leave vacation time unused, average commute time, the share of workers with multiple jobs, and annual volunteer hours per person, as reported by CBS News. WalletHub said nearly half of Americans do not expect to use all of their paid time off this year, pointing to a broader workplace culture in which workers often leave vacation days unused.
Analyst's Perspective
"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," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said, as quoted by both CBS News and Baltimore News. He added, "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."
Lupo's comments underscore a tension in the report: while hard work is celebrated, the data also point to potential drawbacks, such as unused vacation time and limited leisure. The rankings, however, reflect a blend of metrics that capture both productivity and well-being, leaving room for interpretation about what it means to be "hardest-working."