India’s work culture has long been a topic of discussion—are we overworking or not working enough? While some argue that longer hours lead to higher productivity, others believe efficiency matters more than time spent. But what do the statistics reveal?
According to media reports of ET and data from the Advisory Council and the 2019 Time Use Survey, work patterns vary significantly across states. Gujarat tops the list for long working hours, while Goa records the shortest workdays yet maintains strong economic performance.
The study found that 7.2% of Gujarat’s workforce clocks over 70 hours a week—the highest in India—followed closely by Punjab, Maharashtra, and West Bengal. In contrast, Bihar has the lowest percentage of extreme workers, nearly seven times fewer than Gujarat.
When it comes to daily working hours, Delhi leads with an average of 8.3 hours per day, while Goa has one of the lowest averages at just 5.5 hours. Most northeastern states also report workdays of less than six hours.
Do city dwellers work more than villagers?
Urban Indians tend to work longer hours than their rural counterparts. On average, city dwellers clock in 7.8 hours per day, while those in villages work around 6.5 hours daily.
Hardest-working urban populations:
- Rajasthan – 8.6 hours
- Uttarakhand – 8.3 hours
- Gujarat – 8.3 hours
Cities with the shortest work hours:
- Meghalaya – 6.3 hours
- Manipur – 6.1 hours
- Goa – 5.9 hours
In rural areas, Uttarakhand (7.7 hrs), Punjab (7.3 hrs), and Jharkhand (7.2 hrs) see the highest work hours, while Assam, Nagaland, and Goa record the least.
Who Works More: Men or Women?
The study highlights a clear gender divide. Men spend more time on paid jobs, while women, especially in rural areas, handle more unpaid household work.
- In urban areas, men work 8.2 hours daily, while women work 6.2 hours.
- In rural areas, men work 7.3 hours daily, while women work 5.6 hours.
Government vs Private Sector: Who Works More?
On average, government employees work an hour less per day than private sector workers. However, this varies across states. In Telangana and Rajasthan, government employees work two hours more per day than those in Assam, Meghalaya, and Kerala.
Does Working More Mean Earning More?
Not always! The data shows that longer hours don’t always translate to higher earnings. For example, Goa, despite having shorter work hours, leads in per capita productivity. While a 1% increase in working hours generally results in a 1.7% income rise, Goa proves that efficiency matters more than just hours worked.
India vs The World: Where Do We Stand?
Indians work an average of 2,123 hours per year, similar to China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. However, India’s per capita GDP is still lower. Meanwhile, countries like Germany, France, and Switzerland work fewer hours but earn significantly more. This shows that productivity is about efficiency, not just time spent at work.
The key takeaway is that longer working hours don’t always lead to higher earnings. Gujaratis may be putting in the most hours, but Goans appear to have figured out how to maximize productivity with less time. Finding the right mix of hard work and smart work could be the real game-changer. So, should India focus on working more or working smarter?
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