North Dakota
Here’s which state works the hardest
Capitalism and America go hand in hand so perhaps it’s no surprise the US takes the ninth spot in the battle for most hard-working country in the world, at nearly 1,800 hours a year.
But how does that figure break down by state?
Financial news site WalletHub analyzed all 50 states to find out.
North Dakota took the top spot as the hardest working state in the country, while Alaska and Nebraska ranked second and third.
WalletHub compared each state across two dimensions – “Direct Work Factors” and “Indirect Work Factors” – spanning 10 categories for a total of 100 points. Direct Work Factors included average workweek hours, employment rate, share of households where no adults work, share of workers who do not use vacation time, share of engaged workers, and idle youth. Indirect Work Factors included average commute time, share of workers with multiple jobs, annual volunteer hours, and average leisure time.
Hardest working states
|
Overall Rank |
Total Score |
|
1. North Dakota |
66.54 |
|
2. Alaska |
63.55 |
|
3. Nebraska |
59.97 |
|
4. Wyoming |
59.92 |
|
5. South Dakota |
59.69 |
|
6. Maryland |
57.53 |
|
7. Texas |
56.86 |
|
8. Colorado |
55.13 |
|
9. New Hampshire |
54.20 |
|
10. Kansas |
52.63 |
North Dakota had the highest employment rate – at 98 per cent – and the lowest percentage of idle youth, or adults ages 18 through 24 who are not in school, have no school experience beyond a high school diploma, and are not working. But the flip side of that is significant — The Peace Garden State, known for its vast prairies that include Theodore Roosevelt National Park, had the second lowest leisure time and the second highest percentage of workers who do not use their vacation time.
Alaska, which came in second place, had the highest average workweek, at 41.6 hours per week. “This is significant because Alaska is the only state where the average exceeds 40 hours per week,” the report noted. Alaska, which attracts over 2 million tourists every year to see its Northern Lights and other natural wonders, also had the ninth highest percentage of workers with more than one job and the 10th lowest percentage of households where no adults work.
At third place, Nebraska had the third highest percentage of workers with multiple jobs. “Although this may not be an ideal situation, indicating that people’s main jobs are not paying them enough, it’s still a testament to how hard Nebraska residents are willing to work,” the report said. The state also had the second lowest percentage of idle youth and the fifth highest share of volunteer hours per capita.
The states that worked the least were scattered across the country: West Virginia ranked last, while New York, Michigan, New Mexico, and Connecticut rounded out the bottom five.
From liberals to conservatives, the virtue of hard work is a cornerstone of American culture — but that also means little time for other parts of life, including not taking vacation pay workers have earned.
“It’s undeniable that America has fostered a culture of hard work, with people working longer hours than residents of other developed countries and often leaving vacation time on the table,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe wrote in the report. “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.”
Can Erbil, an economics professor at Boston College quoted in the report, said that the current economic environment in the U.S. “presents a mixed picture for wage growth.”
He noted that high inflation and the effects of the pandemic have led businesses to be more cautious when hiring, decreasing job openings and creating a more competitive job market. Meanwhile, automation and artificial intelligence have also contributed to job reduction in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, and technology.
“Despite these challenges, the job market remains relatively strong with relatively low unemployment rates,” Erbil said. “The decline in job openings signifies a return to a more balanced labor market, which can potentially lead to increased job stability and improved employee engagement in the long run.”
Vernon Dale Krause, 93, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Wahpeton, ND, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Heather’s House in Fargo, ND, under the care of HIA Hospice.
A Celebration of life will be held on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by a service at 10:00 a.m., with burial immediately following at Fairview Cemetery in Wahpeton.
Vern was born on February 16, 1933, in rural Wyndmere, ND, one of eleven children born to Theodore and Ella (Rohl) Krause. He grew up in Wyndmere and attended Wyndmere Public School, where he left his studies behind to volunteer for the United States Army. Vern proudly served from 1953 to 1956 before transferring to the Army Reserves. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and, throughout his life, carried great pride in his years of military service.
He married Jean (Carey) Krause, and together they built a life and raised their family in Wahpeton, where he would spend most of his years. They were blessed with two children. In his later years, after developing severe dementia, Vernon moved to Fargo so he could receive the care he needed and be closer to family.
For 41 years, he worked for the City of Wahpeton Water & Sewer Department, where he was highly regarded and known for knowing every inch of the city like the back of his hand. Even after retirement, he continued to volunteer his time and expertise whenever the City needed him. Among the accomplishments he was most proud of were his early years helping develop the Chahinkapa Zoo.
Above all, he cherished his family. He loved anything to do with his grandchildren — from crafting chairs out of tree trunks and splitting wood, to watching their sporting events and helping them grow into who they were meant to be. His great-grandchildren were a true blessing to him — even if their energy made him a little nervous, he always looked forward to their visits. His nieces and nephews brought him great joy as well especially in his later years and he loved being an uncle to them. When his brother Leyone “Spud” moved to town, Vern couldn’t wait to deliver him the daily newspaper and share a chat. He loved tinkering in the garage, always engineering new ways to drain water, and he was the biggest Green Bay Packers fan around — proud to call himself a team shareholder. After moving to Fargo, Vernon was grateful for the time he was able to spend with his sister, Carole Jean, who had always been his protector.
Vernon will be remembered for his steady hands, his quiet devotion to family and community, and the example he set of showing up — for his country, for his city, and most of all, for the people he loved. He will be deeply missed.
Vern is survived by his son, Mark Krause, Fargo; two sisters-in-law, Priscilla Krause and Donna Krause; two brothers-in-law, Ron Carey and Don Carey; eight grandchildren, Carey, Danielle, Margo, Jodi, Nikki, Kevin, Brad and Tracee; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jean Krause; his daughter, Deb Christopher; five brothers, Alfred, Donald, Willard, Kenneth and Leyone Krause; five sisters, Dorothy Peterson, Loretta Dable, LaVelle Odegard, Lucille Kruchek and Carole Jean Johnson-Bohlken; sisters-in-law, Viola Krause, Marleen Krause, Amy Carey and Linda Carey; brothers-in-law, Elroy Odegard, Robert Johnson, Willis Bohlken, Pete Peterson, Johnny Kruchek and Frank Dable; granddaughter, Robyn Krause; and grandson, Jack Bollman.
GRAFTON, N.D. — Two North Dakota men are speaking out about a 38-year-long alleged mistake that altered their entire lives.
The men and their families are suing Unity Medical Center in Grafton, saying the hospital is responsible for
switching them at birth in 1988
. The hospital denies the allegations.
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There are moments that remind us exactly who we are as a community, and the recent fire at Antelope Creek Bar and Grill in Mooreton was one of them. Many already know the awful loss that unfolded. It was a brutally hot day, the kind where the sun feels heavy and the air is so thick, and social media quickly filled with photos, videos, and comments documenting the devastation. Heartbreaking. Gut‑wrenching. A place that held memories for so many suddenly only visions smoke and charred remains.
But even in the middle of all that loss, something else rose up, something that always seems to show itself around here when life gets hard. Kindness. Pure, steady kindness.
The volunteer firefighters were the first reminder. They never cease to amaze me. They drop everything … work, family, whatever they were in the middle of and suit up in layers of gear despite the heat and humidity. They’re regular people with regular jobs, yet they show up like it’s the most natural thing in the world. No spotlight. No applause. Just service. Just heart.
Then came the folks who arrived with water, Gatorade, and anything they could think of to help ease the burden of those battling the blaze. Nobody organized it. Nobody asked. They simply showed up because that’s what people do here. That alone would have been enough to warm my heart.
But it didn’t stop there.
As the day went on, I saw posts from other regional businesses, specifically other bar and grills, reaching out with messages of support. These are places that could easily be seen as competition, yet there they were, offering help, extending care, and standing shoulder to shoulder with the owners who had just watched their livelihood disappear. “We are here. How can we help?” they wrote. No rivalry. No hesitation. Just neighbors being neighbors.
If you ever need a reminder of what makes this valley special, it’s moments like that. People who could have stayed quiet choosing instead to lift someone else up. Businesses that could have focused on themselves choosing instead to stand with another in their darkest moment. It’s the best of us. The part of small town life that doesn’t make headlines but makes all the difference.
We talk a lot about community, but this, this right here is what it looks like. It looks like firefighters sweating through their gear on a 90‑degree day. It looks like strangers handing out cold drinks. It looks like business owners reaching across the aisle to say, “You’re not alone.” It looks like compassion showing up before anyone has time to think twice.
Loss has a way of revealing character. And what I saw in the wake of that fire was a valley full of people who still believe in showing up, still believe in helping, still believe in each other. In a world that can feel divided and loud, this quiet, steady goodness is worth noticing. Worth celebrating. Worth holding onto.
Because when the smoke clears and the debris settles, what remains is the strength of a community that refuses to let anyone face hardship alone. And that, more than anything, is the story worth telling.
That is the true Best of the Valley. The people.
Bobbi Steffens resides in the Southern Valley and discovered her passion for writing through an unexpected path.
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