WalletHub: R.I. 109th in listing of 116 most hard-working cities

RHODE ISLAND ranked 109th on a list of 2015's hardest working cities in America, according to WalletHub, which ranked 116 cities. / COURTESY WALLETHUB
RHODE ISLAND ranked 109th on a list of 2015's hardest working cities in America, according to WalletHub, which ranked 116 cities. / COURTESY WALLETHUB

PROVIDENCE – This week hasn’t been the best for the Ocean State when it comes to state rankings.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, examined 116 of the most populated U.S. cities to determine the hardest working cities in America in honor of Employee Appreciation Day on March 6.
Rhode Island ranked 109th on the list, coming in above only Toledo, Ohio; Tucson, Ariz. and San Bernardino, Calif. (tied for 111th); Baton Rouge, La.; Columbia, S.C.; Buffalo, N.Y. and Burlington, Vt.
Rhode Island ranked low due to average work week hours – 35.6, and a labor force participation rate of 70.8 percent.
The hardest working city? Anchorage, Alaska.
WalletHub said that the modern-day American worker would seem unrecognizable to its mid-20th century predecessor. Back in 1950, it said Americans were 400 percent less productive than they are today, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
“Were we lazier then? Not at all,” WalletHub said. “On the contrary, Americans in 1950 worked nearly 214 hours more per year than we did in 2010. All productivity gains have resulted from rapid technological growth in recent decades. Compared with our European peers, however, research shows that Americans work 50 percent more hours.”
WalletHub examined seven measures, including labor force participation rate, average weekly work hours and number of workers with multiple jobs to come up with the rankings.
In other news this week, 24/7 Wall St ranked Rhode Island the ninth worst state for business, and Business Insider ranked its economy 41st among states.

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