Report: Louisiana Is #1 for Job Stress

Recent research conducted by personal injury attorneys at Premier Law Group has revealed that Louisiana is ranked as the most stressful state for work, receiving a score of 73.8 out of 100.

In contrast, Minnesota is identified as the least stressful state with a score of 32.6.

The study analyzed workplace data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau, assessing various factors that contribute to overall working conditions, including average hourly earnings, working hours, injury rates, unemployment rates, commute times, and the availability of remote work.

States with the Highest Workplace Stress

Louisiana tops the list for workplace stress with a score of 73.8. This state records the longest average workweek in the nation, with employees working an average of 36.5 hours per week.

The average hourly wage stands at $28.98, which is 14.3% below the national average. Only 6.2% of workers in Louisiana have the option to telecommute.

Commuters face an average travel time of 26 minutes to reach their workplaces, and the state’s unemployment rate is at 3.9%. Furthermore, Louisiana has a fatal work injury rate of 6.4 per 100,000 workers, which is 32.7% higher than the national average.

West Virginia ranks second for the most stressful workplaces, scoring 71.1. The state has an injury rate that is 58.1% higher than the U.S. average, at 6.8 per 100,000 workers, and offers the second-lowest hourly earnings, at $28.66. Unemployment is 13% above the national average, and 6.9% of employees have the option to work from home. Workers also work an average of 35.3 hours per week.

Mississippi, with a score of 69.2 out of 100, places third in the study. The state has the lowest percentage of employees working from home at just 4.5% and offers the lowest hourly wages at $26.74. Additionally, Mississippi has the third-highest injury rate in the U.S., with 6.9 incidents per 100,000 workers.

Rounding out the list of the most stressful states, Kentucky ranks fourth with a score of 64.1, followed by Nevada at 61.6, Arkansas at 58.7, Texas at 58.5, South Carolina at 57.9, New Mexico at 56.2, and Tennessee at 56.0.

States Where Stress at Work is Lowest

Minnesota leads the rankings for the least stressful workplaces, scoring 32.6 out of 100. The state averages a workweek of 33 hours and an hourly wage of $37.51, which is 13.1% above the national average. Additionally, 13.6% of employees work from home, while those who commute average just 23.3 minutes. The unemployment rate is 3.2%, and Minnesota has a notably low fatal work injury rate of 2.8 per 100,000 workers—53.5% lower than the national average.

Keisha Smith

Keisha Smith is a Contributing Writer who attended college at Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge. She is currently writing a book on south Louisiana culture.