For years, India’s work culture has been a topic of debate, are we working too much or too little? Some believe long hours mean higher productivity, while others argue that smart work beats hard work. But what do the numbers say?
based on data from the PM’s Economic Advisory Council and the 2019 Time Use Survey, reveals some surprising patterns. It turns out, Gujarat leads when it comes to long working hours, while Goa works the least, but still manages to stay ahead in economic output.
Which state works the most?
According to the study, 7.2% of Gujarat’s workforce puts in over 70 hours a week, the highest in India. Punjab, Maharashtra, and West Bengal aren’t far behind. On the other end, Bihar has the lowest percentage of people working extreme hours, almost seven times less than Gujarat.
But when we look at average daily working hours, Delhi comes out on top, with people working 8.3 hours per day, while Goans work only 5.5 hours, one of the lowest in the country. Most northeastern states also report less than 6 hours of work per day.
Do city dwellers work more than villagers?
Yes! Urban Indians work longer hours than those in rural areas. The average workday in cities lasts 7.8 hours, compared to 6.5 hours in villages.
The hardest-working urban populations are in:
Rajasthan – 8.6 hours
Uttarakhand – 8.3 hours
Gujarat – 8.3 hours
The cities where people work the least?
Meghalaya – 6.3 hours
Manipur – 6.1 hours
Goa – 5.9 hours
In rural India, Uttarakhand (7.7 hrs), Punjab (7.3 hrs), and Jharkhand (7.2 hrs) top the list, while Assam, Nagaland, and Goa see the least work hours.
Who works more, men or women?
The study also reveals a stark gender divide. Men spend more time on paid jobs, while women, especially in rural areas, shoulder unpaid household work.
In urban areas: Men work 8.2 hours a day, compared to 6.2 hours for women.
In villages: Men work 7.3 hours, while women work 5.6 hours.
On average, government employees work an hour less per day than private-sector workers. But this varies by state.
In Telangana and Rajasthan, government employees actually work two hours more per day than their counterparts in Assam, Meghalaya, and Kerala.
Not necessarily! The data shows that more working hours don’t always mean higher earnings. Take Goa, for example. Despite working fewer hours, it leads in per capita productivity.
While a 1% increase in working hours generally results in a 1.7% rise in income, Goa breaks the pattern, suggesting that efficiency, not just hours, is what really drives wealth.
Indians work an average of 2,123 hours per year, putting us on par with China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. But here’s the catch, India’s per capita GDP remains lower than these countries.
In contrast, nations like Germany, France, and Switzerland work far fewer hours but earn significantly more. This proves that productivity isn’t just about time spent at work, but how well that time is used.