A new study has placed Portland, Oregon, among the top 20 U.S. cities where employees are working the most overtime, highlighting ongoing concerns about workplace burnout.
Portland Ranks 15th Nationwide
According to research by Priority Software, Portland ranks 15th among the 100 most populated U.S. cities for overtime work. The study analyzed Glassdoor reviews of companies employing between 250 and 1,000 people, focusing on mentions of overtime, burnout, and additional hours.
Portland had 2,088 keyword appearances related to overtime across 113,020 employee reviews. This equated to 184.75 overtime mentions per 10,000 reviews, putting the city in the top tier of overworked regions.
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El Paso Tops the List
The city with the highest overtime rate was El Paso, Texas, with 201.05 overtime mentions per 10,000 reviews. Other high-ranking cities included Lincoln, Nebraska, and Reno, Nevada, both surpassing 200 mentions per 10,000 reviews.
The top five most overworked cities were:
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El Paso, Texas – 201.05 mentions per 10,000 reviews
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Lincoln, Nebraska – 200.98
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Reno, Nevada – 200.52
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Lubbock, Texas – 198.83
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Stockton, California – 194.89
California Cities Dominate Rankings
Interestingly, the study found that California cities account for a significant share of the list, with Anaheim, Santa Clarita, Los Angeles, Irvine, Long Beach, and Santa Ana all appearing just ahead of Portland. Each had between 184 and 185 mentions per 10,000 reviews, suggesting that employees across the state are consistently working longer hours than average.
Portland’s Workforce Concerns
While Portland did not rank in the top 10, being 15th in the country still reflects significant levels of overtime among workers. With nearly 185 mentions per 10,000 reviews, the findings suggest that many Portland employees are struggling with work-life balance.
Terms such as “burnout” and “additional hours” were frequently cited, reinforcing concerns about employee well-being in a city that has historically been known for valuing quality of life.
A Broader National Issue
The study sheds light on a growing national conversation about workplace culture and overtime expectations. Across many U.S. cities, employees are raising concerns about long hours, insufficient rest, and the toll of constant availability.
Employers in Portland and beyond may need to consider strategies to address burnout—such as flexible scheduling, mental health support, and stronger boundaries around overtime expectations.
Looking Ahead
As workplace culture continues to evolve post-pandemic, the findings from Priority Software underscore the importance of balancing productivity with employee health. For Portland, ranking among the top 20 most overworked cities may serve as a call to action for businesses to reexamine workloads and ensure that employees are not sacrificing well-being for the sake of longer hours.
