Austin Among Cities With Highest Worker Burnout

AUSTIN, TX — Worker burnout is real, and heightened amid the scourge of COVID-19. Those working in Austin aren't immune, with the city cracking the top 11 among cities experiencing work weariness, according to a new study

Researchers at SmartAsset sought to find the cities where worker burnout is most likely, analyzing data from among the 100 most-populous U.S. cities. The upshot: Austin cracks the top 11.

The capital city tied Charlotte, North Carolina, for the No. 10 spot. Researchers found Austin has the ninth-highest average number of weeks worked per year, at 38.4, and the eighth-highest percentage of the population working more than 1,700 hours per year, at 58.8 percent.

It's tough out there for all workers in these times, with the days of the strict 40-hour workweek, with weekends and evenings spent relaxing, a distant memory for many. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2019, more than 10 million Americans work at least 60 hours per week. And for those lucky enough to have a job amid the COVID-19 pandemic, SmartAsset researchers noted, shelter-in-place rules have kept many working from home, a fact that has reduced the separation between the office and home-life.

Working from home ain't what it's cracked up to be, either. Recent data from NordVPN show Americans are working three hours more per day during coronavirus lockdowns than before in more traditional settings and schedules. Then there's the interminable Zoom meetings. And then there's the worry over savings amid an uncertain economy.

In short, it's hard out there. Dallas anxiety is higher than that in Austin, with the Big D snatching the eighth spot on the list. Other Texas cities among the two dozen with the most anxiety include Arlington (13) and Irving (17) along with Houston and Plano, both tied for 24th.

Graphic courtesy of SmartAsset.

For more details, read the full "Cities Where Worker Burnout Is Most Likely – 2020 Edition" report.