US life-work balance key findings
Maine has climbed eight places since 2022’s index, helped by the introduction of our safety metric. Meanwhile, America’s least safe state sits at the foot of the table — Louisiana which scored only 31.64 out of 100 in this category, according to World Population Review’s safest-states ranking.
The South contains many of the lowest-scoring states for life-work balance, with nine of the ten lowest-ranked states located there, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
In contrast, the west of the US dominates the top of our index, with eight of the top 20 positions occupied by western states.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada offer the most generous statutory annual leave allowances — five days in each state — which noticeably improves their index positions.
Washington tops the minimum-wage chart, with workers earning $16.28p/h, and also provides the highest maternity leave payment rate — up to 90% of a worker’s wage (capped at $1,000 per week).
The happiest state in the US? Hawaii. No surprise — the Aloha State is known for its welcoming atmosphere, stunning scenery and enviable climate.
Value your free time? Alaska has the shortest working week in America, with Alaskan workers averaging just over 27 hours per week.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, scoring highly for legal rights and public acceptance.
The safest state to live and work in is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose pay when ill, as their state provides eight paid sick days — the most in our study.
What is life-work balance and how does it look in the United States?
At Remote, we deliberately avoid the phrase work-life balance and instead use life-work balance, highlighting that personal life — family commitments, hobbies and downtime — should take precedence over work.
This distinction matters because, in the United States, the balance between work and leisure has long been a source of dissatisfaction. Even as flexi-time and a four-day week are discussed, long hours, limited holiday entitlement and state-regulated policies on maternity leave and sick pay continue to provoke debate.
Work should not be dismissed — many people find purpose through their careers — but it is essential to balance the hours spent on the job with life beyond the desk. One of the clearest lessons from the pandemic was just how much happier people can be when given more time to focus on life outside work. Our physical and mental health depends on that balance.
We support this shift through our full suite of global HR solutions — including our employer of record services — making hiring and working more flexible than ever. If you are inspired to relocate, we also provide relocation services and a dedicated talent hub for finding remote-friendly vacancies. So, whether you are an employer building a global team or an applicant seeking new horizons (in a US state or another country entirely) we can assist.
How is life-work balance evolving around the world?
Life-work balance is not confined to the United States; it is a global issue.
Our independent research shows that countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark consistently lead the way, topping our European study. Meanwhile, our global life-work index identified New Zealand as the world leader, thanks to generous annual leave entitlements and its reputation as one of the safest countries to live and work in.
Globally there is still room for improvement, but at Remote we are optimistic. We remain committed to supporting the evolving attitude towards life-work balance and look forward to next year’s findings.
