Americans are known for being industrious and hard-working, but are all states created equal in the hours they devote to work? A new map from Qualtrics can give us the answer. The team calculated the percentage of time Americans spent working last year, then color-coded each state based on where it fell on the spectrum. The colorful map shows us that all states fell somewhere within the range of 16% and 27% of last year spent on labor. States on the high end of the spectrum have a green hue, and states on the low end have a pink hue, with average time in the center of the scale represented in shades of blue. The result is an easy-to-read chart showing which state residents worked the most and the least.

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While the range the map represents isn’t huge, workers certainly notice a difference between 16% and 27% of the year spent on the job. What can cause such a big discrepancy? The map helps us get some insights into work culture throughout the nation. For example, residents of Utah spent the most time at work out of all 50 states, and they also have some of the lowest unemployment levels in America. This suggests that plentiful work means lots of time spent laboring, or maybe it implies that Utah residents genuinely enjoy working.

We can also see the effects of low wages on hours spent at work. In states where wages are lowest, like Mississippi, Alabama, South Dakota, and West Virginia, residents worked longer hours, most likely to earn what they need to get by. We can also see this in states with high living costs, like Colorado. It’s an expensive state to live in, and workers there spent more time on the job. We can speculate that the need for more wages pushes employees to work more.

Industry can also play a part in work hours. We already know that Alabama and Mississippi workers are spending a lot of time in the workplace, but we also have to consider that there are a lot of manufacturing jobs in these states. These jobs often come with a high demand for long shifts that exceed 40 hours a week. On the other end of the spectrum, we can see that high availability of part-time work can lead to lower work hours. Connecticut residents worked the least amount of time last year, which is clearly because 29% of the workforce has a part-time job. Other states with the lowest work hours include Michigan, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Illinois, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, and Texas.

This map is a fascinating insight into American work culture and how it varies across the nation. The best maps and studies give us statistics that can provide us with a bigger picture of an issue like labor, and this map certainly delivers.

Do you have a passion for fast cars, scenic drives, and classic automobiles? If so, you might be curious about which states cater best to car lovers. The experts at Speedway Motors have developed a ranking system that evaluates each state based on the factors most important to auto enthusiasts. Their in-depth analysis reveals which parts of the country offer the best experience for those who live and breathe cars.

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How the Rankings Were Determined

Determining the ultimate destination for car fans isn’t an exact science, but the research team considered a variety of key factors to ensure a well-rounded assessment. Here’s what they looked at:

• The percentage of roads in excellent condition
• The average number of snow days per year
• The frequency of hailstorms annually
• Registration costs and duration
• The price of fuel per gallon
• The percentage of uninsured drivers
• The number of car shows held in the state
• The availability of auto racing venues

Do these factors align with what you’d consider important for an ideal car-friendly state? We think this method covers all the essential aspects—driving conditions, costs, events, and opportunities to enjoy the thrill of the road.

Top States for Car Lovers

Based on this ranking system, the following states earned top spots for their well-maintained roads, favorable weather, affordable fuel, and exciting car culture:

• Florida
• Alabama
• Idaho
• North Carolina
• West Virginia
• Tennessee
• Arizona
• Indiana
• New Hampshire
• Kentucky

Florida takes the lead as the best state for car enthusiasts, thanks to its warm climate, minimal snowfall, and well-kept roads. Car lovers will also appreciate the numerous auto events, such as the prestigious Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, where rare and luxury cars take center stage. Racing fans, on the other hand, can enjoy the adrenaline rush of the iconic Daytona 500. Even though fuel prices are slightly above average, Florida’s thriving car culture more than makes up for it.

The State with the Most Car Meet-Ups

This chart’s strength comes from the way it breaks down specific aspects that appeal to car lovers. For example, if you don’t care about driving as much as you care about attending car shows, you can re-evaluate the rankings and bring the states with the highest scores for car shows to the top of your list. This would make California the top state in terms of car shows, with more than any other state. Monterey Car Week alone can satisfy even the most passionate enthusiasts!

The State with the Best Roads

For those who express their love of cars with road trips, you’ll be interested to know that Alabama has the best-kept roads in the nation. 75% of them are well-maintained and in good condition. They’re closely followed by New Hampshire at 74%.

States with Low Gas Prices

It’s hard to enjoy a good road trip if you blow your budget on gas. Oklahoma offers the most value for your money, with average gas prices of $2.53 per gallon at the time of the study. Texas came in second place at $.259 per gallon.

Every year, Fortune magazine publishes its much-anticipated Fortune 500 list. This list is meticulously analyzed by company owners, investors, and influential figures in the business world. So, what makes the Fortune 500 so significant? In this article, our team at The Chartistry provides an in-depth examination of the list, exploring why it attracts so much attention and what it takes for a company to be included.

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What is the Fortune 500?

The Fortune 500 is the finance magazine’s list of the 500 most profitable companies in the United States. The company ranked at the top of the list brings in the most revenue based on its financial documents from the most recent fiscal year. The Fortune 500 list for 2024 has Walmart ranked in the top spot with revenue of $648.125B. In fact, this giant retail store has been ranked number one for the last eleven years.

What Does It Take to Make It Onto the Fortune 500?

To become a Fortune 500 company, a business must be incorporated and conduct operations in the U.S. In addition, the company’s financial documents must be public for it to be considered by Fortune.

Why Do Companies Want to Be on This List?

Fortune magazine published its first list of the top 500 U.S. companies in 1955. Since then, the presence of reputable companies such as Exxon Mobil, Goldman Sachs Group, and General Mills has given the list an air of prestige. Plus, these 500 businesses bring in incredible amounts of revenue and contribute to the strength of our economy. Wouldn’t you want your company to appear on a list alongside Walmart, Amazon, and Berkshire Hathaway?

Have Any Companies Appeared on the Fortune 500 for Decades?

Yes, some companies have made repeated appearances. Some famous names have been on the list every year since 1955, including Kellogg, Chevron, and Exxon Mobil, to name a few.

Fortune 500 Companies by State

Walmart, the number one ranked company on the Fortune 500, is located in Arkansas, with its headquarters in Bentonville. Fortune’s number two company, Amazon, is the biggest in Washington, with its headquarters in Seattle. Exxon Mobil is the biggest Fortune 500 company in Texas, and it does business out of Houston.

An interesting thing to note about this list is that not all 50 states are home to a Fortune 500 company. The states without one include:

• Alaska
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

The Largest Fortune 500 Company Headquartered in Each State

Do Some States Have More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, several states have multiple companies on the list. Texas leads with 55 companies on the Fortune 500, followed by California with 52 and New York with 50. These states all boast a large population and bustling metropolitan areas.

Do Some States Have Just One Fortune 500 Company?

Yes, some states on the list are home to just one. These states include Delaware, Kansas, Kentucky, and South Carolina. In terms of total population, each of these states ranks in the lower half on the list of 50. Delaware has the lowest population, with 1,044,320 people in 2024.

Are Some Cities Home to More Than One Fortune 500 Company?

Absolutely! In fact, some cities serve as the home base for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Some notable examples include:

Chicago

Illinois has 33 Fortune 500 companies, including Walgreens, McDonald’s, and United Airlines, among others. Dozens of these companies are headquartered in the Chicago area.

Houston

Of the 55 Fortune 500 companies in Texas, Houston is home to 21. Exxon Mobil, Sysco, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) are just a few of the impressive companies in the collection.

Atlanta

According to our chart, the biggest Fortune 500 company in Georgia is Home Depot, ranked at number 20. But Home Depot is not alone. There are 18 Fortune 500 companies in Atlanta, including Aflac, Delta Air Lines Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, and others.

Make sure to explore our other lists and visuals, which provide insight into the world of big business. One list ranks companies by employee profits (which happens to be one of our original visualizations), while another categorizes the most profitable companies by industry. It’s no surprise that many Fortune 500 companies frequently appear on various lists throughout the year, highlighting their achievements.

The Number of Fortune 500 Companies in Each State

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Fortune 500