Only One Michigan City Ranks Among Hardest-Working in U.S.

WalletHub's annual report finds Detroit near the bottom of 116 cities evaluated

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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WalletHub's new ranking of the hardest-working cities in the U.S. found that only one city from Michigan, Detroit, made the list, landing at number 115 out of 116 cities evaluated. The report analyzed 11 key metrics, including employment rate, average weekly hours worked, and percentage of workers holding multiple jobs, to determine the rankings.

Why it matters

As a major industrial and manufacturing hub, Michigan has long been known for its hardworking workforce. However, this report suggests that the state's largest city is not keeping pace with other top-performing metropolitan areas when it comes to work ethic and productivity.

The details

Michigan is a national leader in the production of motor vehicles, industrial machinery, furniture, agricultural products like cherries, asparagus, blueberries, and apples. The state has a diverse and sizable workforce, but the WalletHub analysis indicates that Detroit, the state's largest city, is not among the most industrious cities in the country.

  • WalletHub released its annual ranking of hardest-working cities in the U.S. in February 2026.

The players

WalletHub

A personal finance website that conducts research and publishes reports on a variety of economic and financial topics.

Detroit

The largest city in the state of Michigan, known for its history as an automotive and manufacturing hub.

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The takeaway

This report highlights the need for Michigan, and particularly its largest city Detroit, to further cultivate a culture of hard work and productivity in order to remain competitive with other top-performing metropolitan areas across the country.