Michigan Ranks Lowest in Workforce Productivity: Study Reveals

News Summary

A recent WalletHub study has ranked Michigan as the least productive state in terms of workforce engagement, citing key challenges such as low average work hours and employment rates. The study evaluated various factors influencing productivity, with North Dakota recognized as the hardest-working state. The findings highlight a concerning trend of low productivity not only in Michigan but also in several other states across the Midwest, prompting discussions about labor policies and workforce development in the region.

Michigan has been identified as having the hardest-working state’s least productive workforce, according to a recent study by WalletHub released on September 5, 2025. This analysis ranked Michigan as the bottom state based on its workforce engagement, highlighting significant concerns about productivity levels in the region.

The study evaluated ten direct and indirect factors related to work and productivity. Key direct factors considered included unemployment rate, average workweek hours, the percentage of workers leaving vacation time unused, and the percentage of workers with more than one job. WalletHub’s findings showed that Rust Belt and Midwest states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia similarly scored poorly in terms of workforce productivity.

Despite its reputation for hard work, Michigan’s low ranking is attributed to specific challenges including low average work hours, low employment rates, and high youth idleness rates. The state’s employment rate was reported to be the fifth-lowest among the states surveyed, contributing significantly to its overall low standing.

The study also highlighted states that excelled in workforce productivity. North Dakota was recognized as the hardest-working state, showing the third-highest employment rate and the fifth-highest average workweek hours at 39.6 hours. In particular, Alaskans averaged the longest workweek, clocking in at 41.6 hours, while South Dakota achieved the highest employment rate at over 98%. Other states ranking high on the list included Texas at second for average workweek hours and Hawaii for its assessment of indirect work factors.

Supporting details of the study were drawn from data provided by reputable sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gallup, and AmeriCorps. The comprehensive analysis accounted not only for direct work factors such as the share of engaged workers and households without working adults, but also for indirect factors like average commute time, workers holding multiple jobs, annual volunteer hours per resident, and average leisure time per day.

In addition to Michigan, New York, Nevada, and Rhode Island were also listed among the least hardworking states, signaling a trend of low productivity in several key regions. Virginia, New Hampshire, and Wyoming rounded out the top eight hardest-working states, with Nebraska noted for offering the highest average leisure time per day.

WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo commented on America’s culture of hard work, pointing out that while many Americans put in long hours, the effectiveness of those hours can vary greatly by state.

As the analysis concludes, Michigan faces significant challenges in enhancing workforce productivity, emphasizing the need for a renewed focus on boosting engagement and employment rates among its residents. The implications of this study may contribute to ongoing discussions about labor policies and workforce development strategies in the state.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• Click on Detroit: Michigan Has the Laziest Workforce
• MSN: The 10 Hardest Working States
• Business Insider: Hardest Working States Report
• WLNS: Michigan Ranks as Least Hard Working State
• Patch: Michiganders Don’t Want to Work
• Wikipedia: Work Ethic
• Google Search: Michigan Workforce Productivity