The 9 Hardest Working Cities in America

It’s no secret that Americans work hard.

America has long been recognized for its strong work ethic. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, the average American worker spent 1,788 hours on the job in 2013, significantly higher than most of its developed peers, including Canada (1,706 hours), the United Kingdom (1,669 hours), and Germany (1,388 hours).

However, Americans are also working more than our grandparents. A 2010 report by the Center for American Progress found the average American family worked an average of 11 more hours each week in 2006 compared to 1979.

Indeed, while the unemployment rate has been steadily dropping, wages have not risen as much as economists have been hoping following the 2008 recession. As a result, many Americans are working simply to make ends meet. In other words, there are good and bad reasons Americans are working more.

While America works harder than many of its peer nations, how do American cities stack up against each other?

The consumer finance website WalletHub.com recently examined workforce data for the 116 most populous cities in America. The result is their ranking of the “Hardest Working Cities in America.”

The list is based on seven factors, including labor force participation rate, number of workers with multiple jobs, and average weekly work hours. Included below are the top 9 cities on the list, along with the weekly work and labor force participation data points.

9. Denver

Average Workweek: 38.9 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 78.53%

8. San Francisco

Average Workweek: 39.6 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 79.06%

6. (tie) Garland, TX

Average Workweek: 39.5 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 78.25%

6. (tie) Jersey City, NJ

Average Workweek: 39.5 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 75.02%

Image: Dan DeLuca (Flickr/Creative Commons)

5. Irving, TX

Average Workweek: 40.1 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 78.52%

4. Cheyenne, WY

Average Workweek: 39.8 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 78.08%

Image: Flicker User Cliff (Creative Commons)

3. Plano, TX

Average Workweek: 40.6 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 78.65%

2. Virginia Beach, VA

Average Workweek: 40.1 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 77.80%

1. Anchorage, AK

Average Workweek: 40.7 hours

Labor Force Participation Rate: 79.21%

To view WalletHub’s entire list, click here.