{
  "id": 3508333,
  "title": "The hardest-working states in the US, ranked",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/the-hardest-working-states-in-the-us-ranked",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-26T12:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/hardest-working-us-states-ranked-2026-08"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In the latest report by personal finance website WalletHub, Michigan has been ranked as the least hardworking state in the United States for the second consecutive year. The state's direct work factors, which include employment rates and average workweek hours, ranked 50th out of all 50 states. Its indirect work factors, which consider variables such as volunteer hours per resident and idle youth rates, placed Michigan at 34th. Oregon, on the other hand, was ranked as the hardest-working state, with its direct work factors ranking 49th and its indirect work factors placing it at 21st. The report assessed all 50 US states, looking at 10 indicators across two categories – direct work factors and indirect work factors – to determine the rankings.",
  "summary": "Americans work an average of 1,800 hours per year, but residents of some states work harder and longer than others.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}