West Virginia's workforce faces a crisis that sets it apart from every other state in America. Workers there earn just $52,200 annually on average, suffer from depression at rates exceeding 26 percent, and have access to fewer quality employers than anywhere else in the country. These factors combine to make West Virginia home to the nation's unhappiest workers.
A comprehensive analysis by Event Display examined eight critical factors affecting worker satisfaction nationwide: annual earnings, quit rates, workplace fatalities, depression rates, commute duration, paid leave, weekly hours, and employer quality. West Virginia's score of 69.65 on the unhappiness index topped all states. The data reveal workers caught in a cycle of inadequate pay, mental health struggles, and scarce opportunities for relief or career growth.
The Mountain State's Perfect Storm
The statistics paint a bleak picture. West Virginia workers receive only 8.5 paid days off each year, among the lowest in the nation. Their daily commute averages over 26 minutes each direction. Just 9.58 percent of employers in the state earn ratings of 4.5 stars or higher—the smallest percentage nationwide. Financial stress, exhaustion, lengthy drives, and substandard workplaces create conditions ripe for burnout.
Louisiana takes second place with a score of 65.22, though its challenges differ. Workers there log 45.8 hours weekly—the longest work week in America—while earning a modest $53,440. Depression affects 23.5 percent of the workforce. Limited vacation time and mediocre employer ratings mean Louisiana workers sacrifice more time for less compensation than workers almost anywhere else.
Wyoming ranks third at 62.68 despite offering higher wages. The state records the nation's highest rate of fatal workplace injuries: 0.0076 per 100,000 residents. A quit rate of 3 percent, second-highest nationally, suggests workers leave their jobs at the first opportunity. Extended work weeks and mental health metrics trailing national averages paint a picture of workers desperate for improved safety and stability.
Southern States Bear the Brunt
Kentucky and Tennessee occupy fourth and fifth place with scores of 61.56 and 60.36, respectively. Both states show depression rates around 24 percent, below-average pay, and minimal vacation policies. Workers regularly exceed 40-hour workweeks while feeling overworked and underappreciated, reflected in poor employer ratings.
Mississippi lands in sixth place at 60.12, offering the nation's lowest average annual earnings at just $47,570. Extended hours, scarce paid leave, and relatively high injury rates create an environment where workers feel constantly pressured. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, and South Carolina complete the bottom ten rankings.
South Carolina stands out with a 2.4 percent quit rate, among the nation's highest. Above-average commute times and limited paid time off undermine morale despite reasonable wages. Arkansas workers benefit from lighter weekly hours at 37.6, but low earnings, long commutes, elevated depression rates, and minimal vacation time negate that advantage.
The Human Cost
Chris Trembath, a job expert at Event Display, provided insight into the roots of worker discontent. "People often think they're just cranky or tired, but unhappiness is usually a sign that something deeper isn't right, whether it's pay not keeping up with living costs, not getting enough rest, or simply feeling stuck," he explained.
Extended hours without adequate time off affect more than energy levels. "It also chips away at your mental health. When you add long commutes or financial stress on top, people feel worn down before their day even starts," Trembath noted.
Depression statistics underscore how dissatisfaction manifests beyond complaints or resignations. West Virginia's 26.4 percent depression rate leads nationally, followed by Kentucky at 24.2 percent and Tennessee at 24.1 percent. Alabama and Arkansas both register 23.5 percent. These figures far exceed national averages and concentrate heavily in states with stagnant wages and excessive hours.
Mental health challenges paired with financial strain and long hours create a difficult cycle to break. Many workers cannot afford therapy or take time off to address psychological needs, while the stress of surviving on inadequate wages intensifies existing anxiety and depression.
Workplace Dangers and Departures
Fatal workplace injury rates add another layer to worker dissatisfaction. Wyoming leads the nation, followed by Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Arkansas. These numbers reflect both inherently dangerous industries and workplaces where safety may be sacrificed for productivity.
Quit rates provide additional insight into satisfaction levels. Idaho leads at 3.7 percent, with Montana and Wyoming at 3 percent. Elevated quit rates typically indicate workers leaving when financially able. South Carolina, Colorado, North Carolina, and Delaware also show elevated quit rates at or above 2.4 percent.
West Virginia's 2.2 percent quit rate falls slightly below these peaks, possibly reflecting limited opportunities rather than contentment. When wages are low and alternatives scarce, workers often remain in unsatisfying positions because better options don't exist.
The Contrast: Where Workers Thrive
Massachusetts ranks as the state with the happiest workers, scoring 23.27. Workers there earn an average of $80,330 annually—nearly $28,000 more than West Virginia workers. They receive 11.4 paid days off compared to West Virginia's 8.5 days. Weekly hours average 38.2, slightly less than West Virginia's 38.4 hours.
Connecticut, New York, California, and New Jersey round out the top five. These states share higher earnings, more generous vacation policies, shorter work weeks, and superior employer ratings. Depression rates run lower, and while commutes may be longer in some cases, better pay and benefits compensate for those challenges.
The divide between Massachusetts and West Virginia extends beyond wages and hours. In Massachusetts, 16.2 percent of companies earn 4.5-star ratings or higher. In West Virginia, just 9.58 percent reach that threshold. This gap suggests not merely lower pay but inferior employers who invest less in workplace culture, benefits, and employee well-being.
Beyond Individual Mood
Trembath emphasized that worker unhappiness affects more than personal morale. "When workers feel unhappy, you see more quitting, more mistakes, and less trust between employees and employers," he said. "Companies that offer better balance, clearer communication, and a feeling of safety tend to have happier teams. It doesn't always come down to money; sometimes it's about letting people feel valued and heard."
The findings align with broader national trends showing rising employee dissatisfaction. Burnout, financial pressure, and poor work-life balance emerge as primary concerns in recent surveys.
Commute times matter most when combined with other pressures. New York faces the longest commutes at 33.2 minutes, followed by Maryland at 32 minutes. South Dakota enjoys the shortest at 17.4 minutes. West Virginia's 26.3-minute average ranks in the middle nationally.
But a 26-minute commute paired with a $52,200 salary, 38.4-hour work weeks, minimal time off, and a 26.4 percent depression rate creates persistent strain. The same commute paired with an $80,000 salary, 11.4 vacation days, and strong employer ratings becomes manageable.
Defying Simple Patterns
Some states resist easy categorization. Alaska ranks 39th at 39.03 despite high wages ($69,880) and short commutes (19.3 minutes). However, the state faces elevated fatal injury rates and a high quit rate (2.9 percent). Workers average just 31.8 hours weekly—the lowest nationwide—possibly reflecting seasonal employment and job instability.
Delaware presents another puzzle at 43rd place with a score of 36.81. Solid wages ($65,990) and generous paid time off (11.4 days) don't prevent a high quit rate (2.4 percent) and above-average commutes (25.9 minutes). These contradictions demonstrate that satisfaction depends on multiple interacting factors rather than any single element.
The Path Forward
For West Virginia and other states at the bottom of the happiness rankings, the solution appears clear but challenging. Raising wages helps, but so does reducing hours, improving workplace safety, expanding paid time off, and addressing mental health needs. Companies prioritizing these factors typically retain workers and build stronger teams. Those neglecting them face constant turnover, errors, and exhausted workforces.
Worker happiness isn't abstract—it's measurable, trackable, and directly connected to compensation, hours, commutes, and time off. States and employers ignoring these connections risk losing their workforce to locations with better conditions. West Virginia exemplifies these pressures more acutely than any other state, claiming the top spot on a list no state aspires to lead.
Complete Rankings
| Rank | State | Score |
|------|-------|-------|
| 1 | West Virginia | 69.65 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 65.22 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 62.68 |
| 4 | Kentucky | 61.56 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 60.36 |
| 6 | Mississippi | 60.12 |
| 7 | Alabama | 58.95 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 58.87 |
| 9 | Indiana | 57.65 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 57.56 |
| 11-20 | Idaho (57.28), Montana (55.52), Missouri (53.93), North Carolina (53.91), Iowa (52.56), North Dakota (52.35), Ohio (50.66), Oklahoma (50.59), Kansas (49.56), South Dakota (48.48) |
| 21-30 | Georgia (47.77), Nebraska (47.75), Michigan (47.57), Nevada (47.17), Utah (47.10), Wisconsin (46.47), New Mexico (44.89), Texas (44.20), Florida (43.95), Minnesota (43.69) |
| 31-40 | Maine (43.66), Oregon (42.56), Maryland (42.06), Arizona (41.74), Illinois (41.16), Vermont (40.92), Virginia (40.75), New Hampshire (39.70), Alaska (39.03), Colorado (38.79) |
| 41-50 | Rhode Island (38.00), Washington (37.12), Delaware (36.81), Pennsylvania (36.56), Hawaii (29.94), New Jersey (27.91), California (27.85), New York (27.22), Connecticut (26.43), Massachusetts (23.27) |
Methodology
Event Display evaluated all 50 states using eight indicators of worker satisfaction. Average yearly earnings, quit rates, fatal workplace injuries per 100,000 residents, and depression rates each received 15 percent weighting. Commute times, paid time off, weekly working hours, and employer ratings each received 10 percent weighting. Scores were normalized and combined to determine overall happiness rankings. Data sources included the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, and Glassdoor.