The study conducted by WalletHub ranked Washington DC as the hardest-working city in America, with New York coming in at 99th on the list. Jersey City and Columbus, Ohio, outranked New York as well. Factors that contributed to DC’s ranking included the high percentage of workers who leave vacation time unused, with 64% of workers doing so. The study included 11 metrics divided into Direct Work Factors and Indirect Work Factors, and Washington DC scored significantly higher than New York overall.
Washington DC ranked third for the highest hours worked per week on average, with many residents having a commute longer than 30 minutes to work. The average American works about 35 hours per week, but many residents of the nation’s capital have longer commute times, contributing to its high ranking as a hard-working city. New York City also had long commute times, with the average traveler taking more than 60 minutes to get to work. However, DC had a lower average commute time at 30.1 minutes.
Despite NYC’s ranking as the 99th hardest-working city, many residents expressed their disagreement with the study’s findings. Some pointed out that life in New York is expensive, requiring people to work long and hard to afford living there. Others mentioned their own rigorous work schedules, with some working up to 10 hours a day, six days a week. The average American works 1,811 hours per year, which is significantly more than workers in Japan, the UK, and Germany.
Irving, Texas, took the second spot on the list, with the lowest share of households where no adults work. The city also ranked high for the longest hours worked and less leisure time. Cheyenne, Wyoming, ranked third with 97% of adults working. However, the study did not provide an explanation for why New York City ranked so low on the list, despite the perception of many residents who believe they work hard given the city’s high cost of living.
Overall, Washington DC claimed the title of the hardest-working city in America, with factors such as high percentage of workers not using vacation time and long commute times contributing to its ranking. New York City residents gave mixed reactions to the study, with many disagreeing with their city’s low ranking on the list. Despite differing opinions, the study provided insight into working conditions across different cities in the United States and the factors that contribute to their overall ranking in terms of hard work.
