US life-work balance key findings
Maine has risen eight places since the 2022 index after we introduced a safety metric. By contrast, the nation’s lowest-scoring state sits at the foot of the table — Louisiana scored just 31.64 out of 100 in that safety category, according to World Population Review’s ranking.
The south contains many of the lowest-ranked areas for life-work balance, with nine of the ten bottom 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 held by western states.
Illinois, Maine, and Nevada offer the most generous statutory annual leave allowances — five days in each state — which significantly boosts their index positions.
Washington tops the minimum wage list with workers earning $16.28 p/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 famed for its warm welcome, spectacular scenery and enviable climate.
Prefer more free time? Alaska records the shortest average working week in the US — 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+ rights and freedoms.
The safest state to live and work in is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose pay when they are ill — New Mexico offers eight paid sick days, the most of any state in our study.
What is life-work balance and how does it look in the United States?
At Remote, we intentionally avoid the term work-life balance and instead flip the phrase to put personal life — family commitments, hobbies and downtime — before a career.
This shift in language matters, especially in the United States where the balance between paid work and free time has long been a sore point. Even as flexible hours and four-day weeks gain traction, long working hours, limited vacation and variable state rules on issues such as maternity leave and sick pay still spark debate.
Work should provide meaning for most people, but there must be a clear balance between time spent at work and time away from the desk. One of the pandemic’s biggest lessons showed how much happier people can be when given more opportunity to focus on life beyond work. Our physical and mental health depends on that balance.
We support that 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’re inspired to relocate, 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 seeking new horizons (in a US state or another country entirely), we can help.
How is life-work balance changing around the world?
Life-work balance is not confined to the United States; it is a global concern.
Our independent research shows countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark regularly rank highly in this area, topping the charts in our European study. At the same time, our global life-work index named New Zealand the world leader, ranking #1 thanks to generous annual leave entitlements and its standing as one of the safest countries to live and work in.
There is still progress to be made globally, but at Remote we remain positive about the direction of travel. We will continue to support the evolving attitudes toward life-work balance and look forward to next year’s results.
