A nationwide evaluation of labor conditions has placed Wyoming at the forefront of burnout risk among American workers heading into 2025. According to new research compiled by Phillips Law Firm, which analyzed key employment metrics across all states, Wyoming presents the most concerning combination of long working hours, job turnover, and fatal workplace injuries.
The study evaluated four contributing factors across the U.S. labor force: average weekly hours, weekly earnings, job quit rates, and fatal work injury rates. Each data point was weighted equally to create a composite score out of 100. Wyoming earned the highest index score of 81.17, flagging the state as a focal point for labor stress and workforce instability.
The numbers for Wyoming highlight a challenging employment landscape. Workers average 34.6 hours per week and earn $1,027.27 weekly, which sits near the middle of national earnings but is accompanied by troubling safety metrics. Wyoming posts the highest fatal injury rate in the country, with 15.39 deaths per 100,000 workers. The job quit rate also stands out at 3.7 percent, revealing a workforce under pressure and in flux.
West Virginia follows close behind, scoring 79.57. The average work week there stretches to 35.5 hours, one of the longest nationally. With earnings of $987.61 per week and an 8.05 fatal injury rate per 100,000 workers, the data suggest high output combined with limited safety infrastructure. Mississippi comes in third at 74.23, driven by low earnings of $876.34 per week and notable injury rates.
Rounding out the top five are Louisiana (74.22) and Arkansas (69.48), both featuring extended work weeks of more than 34 hours and elevated risk factors. Louisiana shows the highest average work hours of any top-ten state at 36.2 hours per week, with a fatal injury rate of 5.33. Arkansas records an injury rate of 6.79 and a job quit rate of 2.2 percent.
Other high-ranking states include Alaska, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Indiana. Alaska stands out for its high earnings at $1,209.92 per week, but its burnout risk climbs due to a 3.8 percent quit rate and an injury rate of 8.68. Tennessee features relatively strong earnings at $1,037.56, though the fatality rate remains concerning at 4.97 per 100,000 workers.
The study’s methodology weights each factor evenly to ensure a balanced view of labor conditions. Sources included Bureau of Labor Statistics datasets for hours worked, earnings, job turnover, and injury rates. The data were standardized and scored on a 0 to 10 scale, with inverse scoring applied to unfavorable metrics such as quit rates and injuries.
The findings point to a pressing need for safety reform and workforce support in states like Wyoming and West Virginia. High fatal injury rates may suggest gaps in occupational health policies or inadequate regulatory enforcement. When paired with high turnover and extended hours, the risk of burnout escalates, impacting not just workers but employers facing retention challenges.
This research offers a lens into regional disparities in labor conditions, urging stakeholders across policy, business, and healthcare sectors to address the root causes of workplace stress. Supporting work-life balance, increasing job safety, and offering competitive wages may help reduce turnover and avoid the long-term costs of burnout.
As American labor markets continue to evolve, tracking and mitigating these risks will remain vital for promoting sustainable work environments across regions.