US life-work balance key findings
Maine has climbed eight places since 2022’s index thanks to the addition of our safety metric. By contrast, the least safe state sits at the foot of the table — Louisiana which scored just 31.64 out of 100 in that category, according to World Population Review.
The South contains many of the lowest-ranked states for life-work balance — nine of the ten bottom spots are located there, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
By comparison, the west of the US dominates our top ranks, with eight of the top 20 states coming from western regions.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada each provide notably generous statutory annual leave — five days — which significantly raises their index rankings.
Washington tops the minimum wage table, with workers earning $16.28 USD p/h, and it also offers the highest maternity leave payment rate — up to 90% of wages (capped at $1,000 USD per week).
The happiest state in the US? Hawaii — hardly surprising given the Aloha State’s friendly vibe, spectacular scenery and enviable climate.
Prefer more free time? Alaska records the shortest average working week in the US — just over 27 hours on average.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, scoring highly for legal protections and public attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people.
The safest state to live and work in is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose pay when they’re sick, since the state guarantees eight paid sick days — the highest level found in our study.
What is life-work balance and how does it look in the United States?
At Remote, we avoid the phrase work-life balance and instead prioritise life-work balance, highlighting that personal commitments — family, hobbies and downtime — should be placed before careers.
That distinction matters because in the US the balance between paid work and personal time has long been a source of frustration. Even now, as flexi-time and four-day workweek conversations gather pace, long hours, limited paid leave and varying state rules on maternity leave and sick pay remain hotly debated.
Work is important — most people find purpose in what they do — but a balance must exist between hours spent on the job and activities outside it. One vital lesson from the pandemic was how much happier people can be when they have more time for life beyond work. Our physical and mental health depends on that balance.
We support this shift through our full range of global HR solutions — including our employer of record services — making hiring and working more flexible than ever. If you’re considering a move, we also provide relocation services and a dedicated talent hub to help you find remote-friendly vacancies. So whether you’re an employer building a global team or an applicant hunting new horizons (in a US state or overseas) we can help.
How is life-work balance changing around the world?
Life-work balance is not only an American issue; it’s a global concern.
Our independent research finds countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark regularly top the charts in this area, as shown in our European study. Our global life-work index named New Zealand as the world leader, thanks to ample annual leave and a strong safety ranking.
Globally there’s still room for improvement, but at Remote we’re optimistic and committed to supporting evolving attitudes towards life-work balance. We look forward to next year’s findings.
