Key findings from the US life-work balance study
Maine has moved up eight places since the 2022 index, largely due to our new safety metric. By contrast, America’s least safe state sits at the foot of the table — Louisiana scored just 31.64 out of 100 for safety in World Population Review’s rankings.
The South contains many of the lowest-ranked states for life-work balance — nine of the ten lowest-scoring states are located there, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
By comparison, the west dominates the top 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 allowances — five days in each state — which significantly boosts their index positions.
Washington tops the minimum wage table, with workers earning $16.28 USD p/h, and also provides the highest maternity pay rate — up to 90% of a worker’s wage (capped at $1,000 USD per week).
Which state is the happiest in the US? Hawaii. That is no surprise — the Aloha State is well known for its friendly culture, beautiful scenery and enviable climate.
Prefer more free time? Alaska records the shortest 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 rankings for LGBTQ+ inclusivity, scoring highly on legal rights and public opinion measures.
The safest state for living and working is Vermont.
Residents of New Mexico are least likely to lose pay when sick, since the state offers eight paid sick days — the highest entitlement in our study.
What do we mean by life-work balance and how does it present in the US?
At Remote, we purposely avoid the phrase work-life balance and instead prioritise life over work — emphasizing family, hobbies and downtime above career demands.
That distinction matters because in the United States the balance between work and personal time has long been a point of frustration. Even as flexible hours and the 4-day week enter mainstream discussion, long hours, limited leave and patchy statutory protection for matters such as maternity pay and sick leave continue to cause concern.
Work should not be dismissed — most people find purpose in their careers — but it is vital to balance time spent working with life outside the office. One clear pandemic lesson was how much happier people can be when given more time for life beyond work. Both physical and mental wellbeing rely on that balance.
We support that shift through our full range of global HR solutions — including our employer of record services — making hiring and working more adaptable than before. If you are considering relocation, we offer relocation services and a dedicated talent hub for finding remote-friendly roles. Whether you are an employer building a global team or a candidate seeking new opportunities (in a US state or elsewhere), we can assist.
How is life-work balance changing internationally?
Life-work balance is not confined to the United States; it is a global issue.
Our independent analysis shows countries such as Ireland, Iceland and Denmark regularly top the lists in this area, as detailed in our European study. Our global life-work index previously identified New Zealand as the world leader, thanks to generous annual leave and strong safety rankings.
Globally there is room for improvement, but at Remote we are optimistic and committed to supporting evolving attitudes towards life-work balance. We look forward to next year’s findings.
