US life-work balance key findings
Maine has climbed eight places since 2022’s index following the inclusion of our safety metric. Conversely, the least safe state sits at the foot of the table — Louisiana scored 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-scoring states for life-work balance, with nine of the ten lowest-ranked states located there, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
By contrast, the west of the US dominates the upper ranks of our index, with eight of the top 20 positions taken by western states.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada provide the most generous statutory annual leave allowances — five days each — which significantly improves their index positions.
Washington tops the list for minimum wage, with workers earning $16.28p/h, and it also offers 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. Little surprise — the Aloha State is famous for its warm welcome, spectacular scenery, and enviable climate.
Prefer lots of free time? Alaska records the shortest working week in America: Alaskans work on average just over 27 hours per week.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, scoring highly for LGBTQ+ legal rights and public attitudes.
The safest state to live and work in is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose pay when unwell, as their state offers eight paid sick days — the highest figure in our study.
What is life-work balance and what does it look like in the United States?
At Remote, we purposely avoid the term work-life balance and instead prioritise life before work, highlighting that family commitments, hobbies and downtime should take precedence over careers.
This subtle change matters because, in the United States, the balance between work and personal time has long been a point of frustration. Even now, as flexi-time and the four-day week enter mainstream debate, long hours, restricted holiday entitlements and varying state rules on maternity leave and sick pay remain contentious.
Work should not be dismissed — most people find meaning in what they do — but it is vital to balance working hours with life outside the office. One key lesson from the pandemic was how much happier people can be when given greater scope to focus on life beyond work. Both physical and mental health benefit from that balance.
We support this change 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 move, we also provide relocation services and a dedicated talent hub to help you find remote-friendly roles. So whether you are an employer building a global team or a candidate exploring new opportunities (in a US state or elsewhere), 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 finds that countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark consistently top the charts in this area, leading our European study. At the global level, our global life-work index named New Zealand as the world leader, driven by its generous annual leave and its standing among the safest countries to live and work in.
There is still room for improvement globally, but at Remote we are optimistic. We remain committed to supporting the ongoing shift in attitudes towards life before work, and we look forward to next year’s findings.
