US life-work balance key findings
Maine has moved up eight spots since the 2022 index following the inclusion of our safety metric. By contrast, Louisiana records only 31.64 out of 100 in this category, based on World Population Review’s safest-states ranking.
The South contains many of the lowest-ranked states for life-work balance; nine of the bottom ten are located in this region, such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
In contrast, the west of the US dominates the higher end of our index, claiming eight of the top 20 spots.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada provide the largest statutory annual leave entitlements—five days each—which substantially improves their index positions.
Washington tops the minimum-wage list at $16.28 p/h and also offers the highest maternity payment rate—up to 90% of wages (capped at $1,000 per week).
The happiest state in the US? Hawaii. Little wonder—the Aloha State is famous for its warm welcome, spectacular scenery, and enviable climate.
Value your free time? Alaska has the shortest average working week in the US, with residents working just over 27 hours per week on average.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, receiving high scores for legal protections and public support for LGBTQ+ people.
The safest state for living and working is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to forfeit pay when sick, thanks to eight paid sick days—the most of any state in our study.
What is life-work balance, and how does it present itself in the United States?
At Remote, we intentionally favour the phrase life-work balance over work-life balance, stressing that personal priorities—family, hobbies and downtime—should take precedence over careers.
This change matters because in the United States the balance between work and leisure has long caused frustration. Even now, as topics such as flexi-time and the four-day work week gain traction, long hours, limited paid vacation and state-level policies on maternity leave and sick pay continue to provoke debate.
Work provides meaning for many people, but it is still vital to balance time at work with life outside the office. A key lesson from the pandemic was precisely how much happier people became when given more opportunity to focus on life beyond work. Our physical and mental wellbeing hinges on this balance.
We support this transition with a comprehensive range of global HR solutions — including our employer of record services — to make hiring and working more flexible than ever. If you are contemplating relocation, we provide relocation services and a dedicated talent hub to find remote-friendly vacancies. Whether you are an employer building an international team or a candidate seeking new opportunities (in a US state or elsewhere), we can help.
How is life-work balance changing globally?
Life-work balance is not limited to the United States; it is a worldwide issue.
Our research finds that nations such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark regularly top the rankings in our European study. At the same time, our global life-work index identified New Zealand as the number one country, due to generous annual leave and its high safety standing.
Globally there is room for improvement, but at Remote we are optimistic about what lies ahead. We are committed to supporting the ongoing shift in attitudes toward life-work balance and look forward to next year’s findings.
