US life-work balance key findings
Maine has risen eight places since the 2022 index following the addition of our safety metric. Conversely, the nation’s least safe state appears at the foot of the table — Louisiana scored just 31.64 out of 100 in this category, according to World Population Review’s safest states ranking.
The South contains many of the lowest-ranked areas for life-work balance: nine of the ten lowest-scoring states are located there, including Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
By contrast, the west of the United States dominates the upper ranks of our index, with eight of the top 20 positions occupied by western states.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada provide the most generous statutory annual leave entitlements — five days apiece — which substantially improves their index rankings.
Washington tops the table for minimum wage, with workers earning $16.28p/h, and it also has the highest maternity leave payment rate — covering up to 90% of a worker’s wage (capped at $1,000 per week).
The happiest state in the US? Hawaii. This comes as little surprise: the Aloha State is celebrated for its welcoming culture, exceptional scenery, and enviable climate.
Value your leisure time? Alaska records the shortest working week in America: Alaskans average just over 27 hours per week.
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Maine lead the way for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, scoring highly on legal rights and public opinion measures for LGBTQ+ people.
The safest state to live and work in is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose income when ill, as their state provides eight paid sick days — the highest figure in our study.
What is life-work balance and how does it present itself in the United States?
At Remote, we intentionally avoid the phrase work-life balance and instead prioritise life-work balance — emphasising that personal responsibilities, family, hobbies and rest should take precedence over professional life.
This shift in emphasis matters, particularly in the United States where the balance between employment and leisure has long been a point of dissatisfaction. Even as flexi-time and four-day weeks enter mainstream debate, long hours, limited paid holiday and varying state rules on issues such as maternity leave and sick pay continue to spark concern.
Work should not be undervalued — many people find purpose in their careers — but equilibrium between time spent working and time spent away from the desk is essential. One clear lesson from the pandemic was how much happier people become when afforded more time for life outside work. Our physical and mental wellbeing depends on maintaining that balance.
We support this evolution through our full range of global HR solutions — including our employer of record services — making hiring and working more adaptable than ever. If you are motivated to move, we provide relocation services and a dedicated talent hub to help you discover remote-friendly vacancies. So, whether you are an employer building a global team or a candidate seeking fresh opportunities (in a US state or another country entirely) we can assist.
How is life-work balance changing around the world?
Life-work balance is not unique to the United States; it is a global concern.
Our independent analysis finds that countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark regularly top the charts in this area, as shown in our European study. At a global level, our global life-work index identified New Zealand as the world leader, largely due to its generous annual leave allowance and strong safety record.
Worldwide, progress remains necessary, but at Remote we are optimistic. We will continue to support evolving approaches to life-work balance and look forward to next year’s results.
