Study: Massachusetts Workers Lack Grit and Work Ethic

If you were to ask me how hardworking the residents of Massachusetts are, I would have thought we were pretty high up on the scale.

The Grit of the Fishing Industry

The first industry that pops into my head is the brutal fishing industry. As you know, dollar for dollar, New Bedford is the No. 1 fishing port in America. Year after year, no other port in the United States brings in a more valuable seafood catch than the Port of New Bedford.

Clearly, this is not an industry for the faint of heart. It's hard to think of anyone who works harder on a daily basis than a New Bedford fisherman. There have been entire television series devoted to highlighting how deadly the fishing industry can be. Mic drop.

Mental Muscle: Massachusetts and the Tech Industry

The second industry that comes to mind couldn’t be further from the fishing industry, but I immediately think of the tech industry and all of the spinoffs that come from it. It is staffed by some of the brightest minds in the world. While it may not be physically exhausting, it is certainly mentally demanding, and those techies plow right through it.

Hard Work Is in Our DNA

I feel like the Massachusetts culture of uncompromising work ethic has been handed down for generations – from the courageous souls who were willing to start their lives over, take the incredible risk of a cross-Atlantic voyage, and settle in a strange land with a brutal climate. Whether they took that perilous trip to Massachusetts in the 1600s, the 1800s or the 2000s, it wasn't easy. Hard work is in our DNA.

Surprising Findings from WalletHub

That being said, some surprising statistics have come out of a WalletHub study that show Massachusetts isn't as gritty as we might think we are.

For example, on average, only four states work fewer hours each week than Massachusetts: Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Utah. The survey also measured the number of homes in each state without an employed adult, and the number of workers who ended the year with unused vacation time.

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Our Youth Are Carrying Us

However, there is good news. When it comes to Massachusetts youth, they are among the most active in America. Only three states have youth that are more active than ours: North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Thank goodness for our active young people. As it stands right now, Massachusetts ranks 38th out of the 50 states for work ethic. We'd be much closer to dead last without them!