A recent report from the personal finance site WalletHub has listed the ten most industrious cities in the United States.
Why It Matters
A robust sense of professionalism is profoundly ingrained in American society and serves as a key component of the American dream.
According to WalletHub’s research, the typical American employee works for approximately 1,799 hours annually—a figure that surpasses Japan’s average by 188 hours, the UK’s by 275 hours, and Germany’s by 456 hours.
What To Know
To arrive at their conclusions, WalletHub analyzed 116 of the largest U.S. cities based on both "direct" and "indirect" employment-related criteria.
Key job-related elements encompassed aspects such as typical weekly working hours, employment levels, the proportion of employees not utilizing their vacation days, and the percentage of homes without employed adults.
The indirect elements encompassed the mean commuting duration, the proportion of individuals holding down more than one job, the total yearly volunteer hours per inhabitant, and the daily amount of free time utilized for relaxation.
Every indicator was evaluated using a 100-point system, where a perfect score of 100 signified the "most diligent."
WalletHub subsequently calculated a weighted average of all indicators for every city to determine an overall score, utilizing this score to establish the ranking of the cities within the sample.
Leading the list as the "most hardworking" city in the U.S. is Anchorage, Alaska.
The study stated that "Residents of Anchorage, AK, are considered the most industrious workers nationwide because it’s among just five states where individuals typically log over 40 hours weekly."
The city boasted an impressively high employment rate of almost 97 percent, indicating that virtually all working-age residents have jobs.
The report indicated that 7.6 percent of workers hold multiple jobs, placing them at the third-highest rate nationally. Additionally, people living in Anchorage reported having some of the lowest amounts of daily free time, with their city ranking as the eighth-least out of the 116 urban areas examined in the research.
The runner-up position went to Washington, D.C.
This was partially due to the fact that the country’s capital saw 64 percent of its workforce failing to use their allotted vacation days, according to the report. Furthermore, it was noted that people living in D.C. put in the fourth-largest amount of weekly working hours on average.
Third place was occupied by Irving, Texas.
The document indicated that it boasted the smallest percentage of homes without working adult inhabitants, standing at approximately 12 percent. Additionally, it was positioned as number six nationwide for average weekly work hours.
The research indicated that it ranked third in terms of having the highest proportion of engaged staff members, referring to those employees who are "devotedly involved, passionate about, and dedicated to both their tasks and their place of employment."
Among the top 10 cities nationally, Irving was joined by three others from Texas: Dallas, Austin, and Arlington.
The leading ten cities were as follows:
- Anchorage, Alaska
- Washington, D.C.
- Irving, Texas
- Dallas, Texas
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Austin, Texas
- Denver, Colorado
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- San Francisco, California
- Arlington, Texas
What People Are Saying
Chip Lupo, an analyst from WalletHub, informed : Anchorage climbed to the top spot as the hardest-working city mainly due to a significant increase in the Indirect Work Factors category.
Last year, Anchorage jumped from 85th place in Indirect Work Factors to rank at number 15 nationally in 2025. These factors encompass elements like the mean commuting duration and the proportion of individuals holding down multiple jobs. Despite having an impressive 97% employment rate, Anchorage places third nationwide, with 7.6% of its workforce managing more than one occupation.
Diligent effort forms the foundation of America’s economic system and stands as a significant factor behind the nation's prosperity, since individuals in the U.S. often put in more hours than those in numerous other industrialized nations.
Although working extended hours, reducing time away from work, and taking on additional jobs can boost productivity, these practices may also adversely affect individuals' physical and mental well-being. It is crucial for people to determine how to balance this effectively. work hard without overworking ."
What Happens Next?
Each year, WalletHub publishes its report on the most industrious cities in the U.S.
has previously mapped the hardest-working states in America .
Updated as of February 25, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. ET: The article has been revised to include comments from Chip Luno.
Have a tale we should look into? Any queries regarding this piece? Reach out. LiveNews@
Related Articles
- California's Updated Fire Hazard Maps Significantly Affect Property Owners
- Chart Reveals Top 10 states for Purchasing Renovation Properties
- Chart Reveals 5 U.S. Urban Areas Where Home Values Are Poised to Decline
- Charting Amtrak Initiatives Progressing Nationwide
Start your unlimited trial