A recent analysis has revealed that Meghalaya has some of the shortest working hours in the country. The study highlights stark differences in working hours across Indian states.
On average, individuals in Meghalaya dedicate about 422 minutes (roughly seven hours) daily to paid work. In urban areas, this figure drops to around 375 minutes or 6.25 hours, making Meghalaya one of the states with the least time spent on economic activities in urban India.
Interestingly, Meghalaya, along with Goa and other northeastern states, does not exhibit a sharp divide between public- and private- sector working hours. Employees across sectors in these states maintain similarly short workdays.
In rural Meghalaya, the pattern remains consistent, suggesting that social, economic, or lifestyle factors may be influencing the work culture in the region.
The trend of shorter workdays is not unique to Meghalaya. Several states in the Northeast, including Assam, Mizoram, and Nagaland, also report lower average working hours. In contrast, regions such as Delhi, Daman & Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli have longer work hours.
Government employees in urban Telangana and Rajasthan reportedly work two hours more per day than their counterparts in Meghalaya, Assam, and Kerala. Private-sector employees in states such as Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, and Uttarakhand also log significantly longer hours than government workers.
