Illinois Ranked Among Least Hard-Working States in New Study

A new study ranks Illinois near the bottom of the list of hardest-working states in America. Not sure about you, but I was surprised, considering we pride ourselves on our blue-collar attitude. However, data from WalletHub shows we log fewer hours per week than most other states.

Illinois Ranks 47th in Employment Nationwide

That's not all, though, as Illinois also has some of the lowest employment rates in America. Ranking 47th out of 50 states in employment is part of the reason for the low ranking. There's another part of the study that suggests Illinois' work culture doesn't emphasize multiple jobs at once, unlike other states in the country, such as the Dakotas or Texas.

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How Illinois Compares to Other Midwest States

The most concerning aspect of the study is how Illinois compares to the rest of the Midwest. Wisconsin ranks 25th overall, Iowa ranks 18th, and Minnesota ranks 19th. Even Missouri has a higher rank than the Land of Lincoln at 31st. Those high rankings do support my "Midwest is blue collar" point, but Illinois still drags behind.

Does Work-Life Balance Explain the Ranking?

The low rank doesn't necessarily mean Illinoisans are lazy; it could mean we prioritize work-life balance, which, for me, is one of the most essential things any decent family person can have. Unused vacation time is a common issue across America, but perhaps not as prevalent in Illinois.

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What WalletHub Analysts Say About Overworking

WalletHub analyst, Chip Lupo, says:

Working hard is commendable, but people in the hardest-working states may need to consider taking a break once in a while, as a lack of leisure time can have a negative impact on people’s physical and mental health.

Maybe Illinois is ahead of the curve on downtime, and the rest of the country needs to catch up. The question remains: Does working less really make us happier, or just less competitive?