These States Are Experiencing the Fastest Growing Worker Burnout

According to a February 2026 report on workplace stress across America, employees in Alabama are showing the biggest signs of burnout.  As nearly 40% of US workers now report feeling burned out at their jobs, a new study by Affordable Contractors Insurance set out to find where the work-related exhaustion is most evident. Alabama workers clock 36-hour workweeks, while 41% get less than 7 hours of sleep. The burnout problem is also most prevalent in the South, with Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas ranking high. 

• Alabama workers face the highest burnout risk in America, with 41% of adults getting insufficient sleep and 25% of vacation days going unused.

• Depression rates are the highest among New Mexico employees, affecting 1 in 15 people in daily life.

• New Jersey shows the best work-life balance, with shorter 34-hour workweeks and one of the lowest anxiety levels across the workforce.

Using the data from Gallup and the US Bureau of Statistics, the research examined seven factors that signal rising burnout in America. The work stress indicators included the average duration of workweeks, the percentage of vacation time that goes unused, and the share of adults who sleep fewer than 7 hours. The study also looked at anxiety and depression rates among the workforce, as well as online searches for burnout-related help. Each state received a Burnout Risk Score from 0 to 100 based on how these workplace pressures affect residents.

Here's a look at the top 10 states where workers are burning out the fastest:

State	Average Hours Worked	% of PTO Not Used	% of Adults Having Insufficient Sleep (<7 hours)	% of Workers Anxious Every Day	% of Workers Depressed Every Day	Burnout-Related Searches	Burnout Risk Score
Alabama	35.9	26	41	2.39	6.1	1.1K	99
North Dakota	35.7	34	31	1.48	5.7	330	98
New Mexico	34.1	29	36	2.35	7.2	760	97
Mississippi	35.5	29	41	1.96	4.8	640	96
Hawaii	33.9	29	46	1.27	3.4	350	95
Oklahoma	35.4	31	36	2.20	4.5	1.2K	93
Louisiana	36.4	26	39	2.06	5.4	1.7K	92
Tennessee	34.9	31	39	1.20	2.8	2.3K	91
Nevada	34.6	30	37	2.65	4.4	1.2K	88
Texas	36.5	29	37	1.06	3.5	9.5K	86

You can access the complete research findings here.

1. Alabama

• Average Hours Worked: 35.9 per week

• % of PTO Not Used: 26.4%

• % of Adults Having Insufficient Sleep (<7 hours): 40.5%

• % of Workers Anxious Every Day: 2.39%

• % of Workers Depressed Every Day: 6.09%

• Burnout-Related Searches: 1,100

• Burnout Risk Score: 99

Alabama workers are showing the biggest signs of burnout. Employees here spend nearly 36 hours weekly on the job, one of the longest workweeks in America. As a result, sleep deprivation is more common here, with 40% of adults getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep nightly. About 6% of workers also report feeling depressed every single day, but the workforce still lets more than a quarter of earned time off expire unused. 

2.  North Dakota

   
   

North Dakota workers face the second-highest burnout risk in America. Like those in Alabama, they clock nearly 36-hour workweeks, and despite the high work rate, employees here let a third of their paid time off go unused. Overworking seems to be causing sleep problems among residents, affecting 31% of locals. Plus, many face mental challenges, as about 5.7% of workers say they have to deal with depression on a daily basis.

3.  New Mexico

New Mexico ranks third for work-related stress levels. Even though locals work about 34 hours a week, fewer than others, they tend to skip about 30% of their vacation days, which likely leads to burnout. The signs of these are high depression levels, affecting 7% of the workforce, and a lack of sleep, which causes problems for 36% of adults. As a result, nearly 1 in 10 residents here seek online help for burnout. 

4.  Mississippi

Mississippi workers rank fourth, working long hours and having poor sleep. An average employee here spends more than 35 hours at the office, and doesn’t take advantage of nearly 30% of paid time off. This high work rate causes sleep problems for many, with around 41% of locals saying they are not getting enough rest at night. Daily depression is common too, affecting nearly 5% of workers, while another 2% face anxiety, higher than what most states experience.

5.  Hawaii

Hawaii rounds out the top five despite its reputation for a relaxed lifestyle. Locals here aren’t necessarily working longer than others (34 hours), but the state still records the worst sleep crisis in America, with more than 45% of adults getting insufficient rest nightly. Hawaiians also show high levels of work commitment and often skip vacation days, as nearly 30% of the time off never gets taken. This lack of rest is likely the cause of why 3.5% of the local workforce also reports daily depression. 

Sean O'Keefe, CEO & Founder of Affordable Contractors Insurance, commented on the study: 

"Burnout has gotten worse since COVID changed how we work. During the pandemic, about 70% of American workers did their jobs from home, and many got used to flexible schedules and no commute time. When companies started requiring office returns in 2022 and 2023, stress levels jumped. Workers went from controlling their own schedules to sitting in traffic and spending long hours in offices again.”