Residents of San Francisco have been identified as the hardest-working individuals in the United States, whereas those in Southern California might want to step up their game.
A recent WalletHub study, which assessed the hardest-working cities in America, placed San Francisco at No. 8 in the nation and as the leader in California.
Fremont, located in the Bay Area, ranked No. 13. Meanwhile, San Jose and Oakland found themselves at No. 53 and No. 56, respectively.
Cheyenne, Wyoming, claimed the top spot overall, followed by Anchorage, Alaska. The remaining top five included Washington D.C., Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Irving, Texas.
Southern California cities lagged significantly in the rankings, with Santa Ana at No. 70 and San Diego just behind at No. 71.
Los Angeles only managed to secure the No. 86 position, falling two spots behind Long Beach.
Historically, Los Angeles has struggled in these rankings since 2009, typically ranking among the least industrious areas in the nation, save for a brief uptick in employment from 2016 to 2018.
Even more concerning were cities in California’s Central Valley. Bakersfield, Stockton, and Fresno ranked 101st, 102nd, and 107th, respectively.
To come up with these rankings, WalletHub analyzed the 116 most populous cities based on a mix of “direct labor factors” and “indirect labor factors.” They evaluated metrics like average weekly hours worked, employment rates, vacation days, commuting times, and the share of workers holding multiple jobs, along with average daily leisure time.
According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, “Hard work drives the American economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s success, especially when compared to many other developed countries.” He noted that, surprisingly, between 40% to 64% of Americans leave some vacation time unused.
Interestingly, studies have pointed out that Americans tend to work about 25% more hours than their European counterparts.
Lupo further commented, “While longer working hours and minimal vacation can enhance productivity, they can negatively affect individuals’ physical and mental health. It’s crucial to find a balance—working hard is important, but overworking can be detrimental.”
