Texas Ranked Seventh Hardest-Working State
A 2026 WalletHub study placed Texas in the top ten states for labor participation and work hours.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Employment
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Texas earned the 7th spot in a new WalletHub analysis measuring workforce intensity across the United States. The state tied with Louisiana for the second-highest number of hours worked per week.
Why it matters
The rankings highlight regional variations in labor participation and work intensity, with average weekly hours and employment rates serving as the primary drivers for the final results.
Texas earned its 7th-place ranking based on metrics including employment rates and average hours worked. While Alaska residents log the most hours weekly, South Dakota leads the nation with a 6.5% rate of workers holding multiple jobs.
The players
WalletHub
This is a personal finance website that regularly publishes comparative studies and rankings on state-level economic and lifestyle metrics.
The details
The WalletHub research evaluated states based on daily leisure time, annual volunteer hours, and the idle youth rate for those aged 18 to 24. Researchers placed the highest analytical weight on the intersection of employment rates and weekly hours worked.
Timeline
WalletHub published the workforce study on October 8, 2026.
Macro View
This ranking follows the precedent set by the WalletHub state workforce study, which serves as a recurring benchmark for measuring national labor intensity. It mirrors broader economic cycles that track how different state demographics prioritize leisure versus total hours worked.
The high ranking suggests that Texas residents face a more intensive work environment than most of the country, which may affect local lifestyle habits and daily leisure time. For families, this correlates with the broader state demand for childcare and the availability of secondary job opportunities.
The takeaway
Workers in Texas sustain some of the longest average workweeks in the country, placing the state near the top of national productivity rankings. Residents looking to balance these demands may consider tracking their daily leisure time alongside their professional output to ensure long-term stability.
Further reading
For more information on state labor trends, visit Employment.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth.
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