Illinois Ranked 40th on List of the Hardest-Working States

Most of us would agree that hard work has been a crucial quality throughout the history of America, and the numbers suggest that working hard is still very much an American thing today.

We put in more hours at our jobs than several other industrialized countries. The average U.S. worker puts in 1,791 hours per year – 184 hours more than the average in Japan, 294 more than the U.K., and 442 more than Germany. In recent years, many people have switched to working from home, which can end up extending work hours even further (WalletHub.com).

DIRECT WORK FACTORS

Average Workweek Hours
Employment Rate
Share of Households where No Adults Work
Share of Workers Leaving Vacation Time Unused
Share of Engaged Workers
Idle Youth

INDIRECT WORK FACTORS

Average Commute Time
Share of Workers with Multiple Jobs
Annual Volunteer Hours per Resident
Share of Residents Who Participate in Local Groups or Organizations
Average Leisure Time Spent per Day

The Study Says Illinois is One of the Least Hard-Working States

The Land of Lincoln barely escaped being in the bottom ten states on the list. Illinois landed at #40, making it the 11th least hard-working state in America. Illinois ranked 42nd in the Direct Work Factors above, and 19th in the Indirect Work Factors. And, according to this report, Illinois has the 48th lowest employment rate in the country.

What About Illinois' Tri-State Neighbors?

The results weren't horrible for Indiana and Kentucky, but they certainly weren't great either. Indiana was ranked as the country's 24th hardest-working state. Kentucky scored just slightly better than Illinois, ranking as the 37th hardest-working state in America.