Are Indians working less these days? A Moneycontrol analysis of the periodic labour force survey data shows that Indians are putting in less number of hours at work compared what they would invest six years back, bringing down the work week to 42.3 hours from 46.8 hours.

But that's not all. The analysis threw up something more interesting. The average urban Indian seems to be working harder than her rural counterpart. The difference has gone up to seven hours from five hours in the last six years.

The working hours have reduced more drastically for the self-employed, compared to salaried workers or casual labourers in 2023-24. The work week for self-employed workers was down six hours in six years, while that for salaried workers decreased only by two hours.

A state-wise comparison shows that urban areas in seven states had over 50-hour work weeks, with Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu being home to the most overworked populations. Moreover, in 22 states, working hours were lower than the national average, with Kerala and Lakshadweep having the most relaxed work week in urban areas.

When it comes to salaried workers, people in the urban centres of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu work over 60 hours a week. At the same time, those in Delhi, Gujarat, and Chandigarh work over 52 hours a week or more than 10 hours a day, assuming five working days.

Chandigarh’s work hours have increased over the years, with workers putting in an hour more than they used to in 2018-19. People in God’s Own Country are now toiling half an hour more than they used to before the pandemic.

While the average urban work week was down by 3.2 hours across the country in six years, in Delhi it reduced only by 0.8 hours. People in urban Gujarat were working 6.5 hours less, while seven states were working more.

Indians are working less now compared to pre-Covid days 

Average working hours have reduced the most for the self-employed

Seven states have over 50-hour work week

Nine hours in case of salaried workforce

In eight states, people are working harder than they used to