Wisconsin Ranks Low in Workplace Stress, BLS and Census Data Reveal

December 30, 2024

Wisconsin Ranks Low in Workplace Stress, BLS and Census Data Reveal

New research analyzed workplace data from all U.S. states, using BLS and U.S. Census Bureau statistics, to identify the least stressful workplaces.
Wisconsin has the eighth-least stressful workplaces, with a stress score of only 39.2 out of 100.
Seven of the ten states with the lowest workplace stress are Democratic-leaning, while eight of the ten states with the highest workplace stress are Republican-leaning.

New research ranks Wisconsin as the eighth-least stressful state to work in, scoring 39.2 out of 100.

Conducted by personal injury attorneys at Premier Law Group, the research analyzed workplace data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Census Bureau across all states. The study identified which states offer the best and worst working conditions by examining factors such as average hourly earnings, working hours, injury rates, unemployment rates, commute times, and remote working.

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.

States with the Least Stressful Jobs

Rank	State	Political Affiliation	Stress Score (/100)
1	Minnesota	Democratic	32.6
2	Vermont	Democratic	34.2
3	Utah	Republican	36.6
4	New Hampshire	Democratic	36.9
5	Connecticut	Democratic	37.5
6	Massachusetts	Democratic	37.9
7	Colorado	Democratic	39.0
8	Wisconsin	Democratic	39.2
9	South Dakota	Republican	39.3
10	Montana	Republican	39.7

With a score of 34.2, Vermont ranks second for the least stressful workplaces. The state has the second-lowest unemployment rate at 2.1% and an injury rate that is 16.2% below the U.S. average, at 3.6 per 100,000 workers. Hourly earnings sit around $33.79, 13.2% of employees work from home, and the average workweek is 33.5 hours.

Utah ranks third for the best work environments, scoring 36.6 out of 100. In this state, 14.1% of employees work from home, and the hourly wages are high at $33.82. Employees also benefit from an average commute time of just 21 minutes and a workweek of 33.3 hours.

Completing the list of the least stressful states, New Hampshire ranks fourth with a score of 36.9, followed by Connecticut at 37.5, Massachusetts at 37.9, Colorado at 39.0, Wisconsin at 39.2, South Dakota at 39.3, and Montana at 39.7.

States Where Stress at Work is Highest

Louisiana ranks highest for workplace stress, scoring 73.8 out of 100. The state has the longest average workweek in the U.S., with employees clocking in 36.5 hours per week. With an average hourly wage of $28.98—14.3% below the national average—only 6.2% of workers have the option to work from home. Commuters spend an average of 26 minutes traveling to work, and the unemployment rate is 3.9%. Additionally, Louisiana experiences a fatal work injury rate of 6.4 per 100,000 workers, which is 32.7% higher than the national average.

States with the Most Stressful Jobs

Rank	State	Political Affiliation	Stress Score (/100)
1	Louisiana	Republican	73.8
2	West Virginia	Republican	71.1
3	Mississippi	Republican	69.2
4	Kentucky	Republican	64.1
5	Nevada	Democratic	61.6
6	Arkansas	Republican	58.7
7	Texas	Republican	58.5
8	South Carolina	Republican	57.9
9	New Mexico	Democratic	56.2
10	Tennessee	Republican	56.0

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.

Speaking on the findings, an expert from Premier Law Group commented, “Stress has become an all-too-common companion in the workplace. From long hours to underpaid staff, employees are facing unprecedented levels of pressure. A stressed employee is disengaged and more prone to errors, accidents, and even burnout. Companies must take proactive steps to create a healthier work culture to combat this.

“Promoting open communication can make a world of difference, as staff who feel supported are more likely to collaborate effectively. Employers must prioritize mental well-being, recognizing that a healthy work-life balance is not a luxury but a necessity.”

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