Hard work as a core value falls to 67%
Americans still say hard work matters, but fewer treat it as a defining value than before the pandemic.
The old belief was simple: work hard and life will reward you. That belief is weaker when people feel the deal no longer pays off.
Hard work being “very important” fell from 89% in 2019 to 67% in 2023.
- economic pessimism
- weaker belief that effort guarantees mobility
- burnout after pandemic work shocks
- more people separating identity from job output
Discipline becomes more valuable when fewer people trust the long game. But your discipline has to be aimed at systems that actually compound, not blind effort.
Behind the numbersOpen
The Wall Street Journal/NORC values poll asked adults how important hard work is to them personally. In 2023, 67% said very important. Historical comparisons reported for the same value were 83% in 1998 and 89% in 2019. The key caveat: this measures stated value, not actual hours worked or personal discipline. It may partly reflect frustration with the belief that hard work reliably leads to upward mobility.