Why WalletHub’s “Hardest-Working States” Rankings Are Complete Junk

WalletHub’s rankings claim to measure hard work, but they rely on junk metrics that paint a misleading picture. Equating longer work hours with harder work? That's an oversimplification that ignores how productivity tanks after 50 hours. Glamorizing multiple jobs as a sign of work ethic? It’s really just highlighting economic struggle. And don’t get me started on employee engagement—nothing more than a subjective guess, far from a true measure of effort. These rankings do more harm than good, perpetuating stereotypes that hurt communities like West Virginia.