Labor days

Houston works its way onto list of hardest-working cities in the U.S.

Houstonians work hard for the money.

Photo courtesy of WeWork

Among Texas’ biggest cities, residents of Houston are working really hard for their money, according to a new study.

The study, produced by personal finance website WalletHub, ranks Houston 22nd among the country’s 116 largest cities in terms of which places have the hardest-working residents. WalletHub weighed 10 key metrics to come up with the ranking, including employment rate, average hours worked per week, and share of households with adults who are not working.

The Lone Star State showed good grit in the study: Irving (No. 3), Plano (No. 5), and Austin (No. 8) landed in the top 10.

“Overall, Texans seem to be some of the most hard-working people. We analyzed 13 Texas cities — 12 of which ranked in the top half,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez says.

WalletHub released the study in conjunction with Employee Appreciation Day, which falls on March 1.

Irving scored particularly well for its share of households with adults who are not working (12.4 percent, No. 1 among all 116 cities), average workweek (40.3 hours, No. 5 nationally), and unemployment rate (96.51 percent, No. 31 nationally).

Not far behind Irving was Plano, which came in at No. 5 overall. High marks for Plano included its share of households with adults who are not working (14.84 percent, No. 4 nationally), average workweek (40.1 hours, No. 8 nationally), and employment rate (96.56 percent, No. 27 nationally).

Here’s how Texas cities in major metro areas fared in the WalletHub study:

Austin ranked No. 8. Its highest ranking in a single category was No. 5 for share of households with adults who are not working (15.83 percent).
Dallas ranked No. 11. Its highest ranking in a single category was No. 6 for average workweek (40.2 hours).
Fort Worth ranked No. 15.
Arlington ranked No. 18.
Garland ranked No. 19.
Houston ranked No. 22.
San Antonio ranked No. 44.

For Houston, Fort Worth, Arlington, Garland, and San Antonio, their highest ranking in a single category was No. 7 for share of engaged workers (35 percent). This statistic was based on statewide figures.

Shopping scene

Eyewear, boys' clothes, and 'splendid' ice cream coming to Rice Village

RIce Village at dusk with shoppers walking around

COurtesy Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

Shoppers in Rice Village are about to have an even broader selection of boutiques and eateries. The Rice Real Estate Company announced this week the arrival of New Orleans-based eyewear brand KREWE, local boys’ boutique ParkerJoe, and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

KREWE offers luxury sunglasses and optical frames that draw inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans. Designs blend classic and contemporary aesthetics, creating unique, fashion-forward frames. The retailer will occupy a 941-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 125, and opens in time for shoppers to find great gifts or get a new look for the holidays. The Rice Village location is the brand's first brick-and-mortar location in Houston. There’s a grand opening fête on Saturday, December 7 from 5 to 8 pm with creative New Orleans fare, live music, and other fun.

In January 2025, shoppers can look forward to ParkerJoe. It’s the second location for the mother-daughter-owned shop, specializIng in apparel for boys from newborns to around 12 years old. Shoppers will find a rich selection of apparel, accessories, shoes, toys, and books, as well as specialty items such as golf and tennis apparel, suits, formalwear, and Texas-themed toys and clothing.The new boutique will occupy a 1,975-square-foot store at 5515 Kelvin Drive, between Vuori and Paper Source.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams also joins the mix, opening a 1,603-square-foot location at 5411 Morningside Drive, across from Torchy's Tacos, in early 2025. Jeni's has gained a cult following for its one-of-a-kind ice creams such as Brown Butter Almond Brittle and Brambleberry Crisp.

The new retailers further cement the Village’s reputation as a shopping destination, offering customers a wide selection of eclectic finds.

"Rice Village continues to attract a dynamic mix of local and national brands," said Kenneth Jett, vice president for facilities and capital planning and president of Rice Real Estate Company. "These new tenants reflect our commitment to providing a vibrant, walkable destination for shopping, dining, and community experiences. We are thrilled to welcome these esteemed brands to our community.”

The new additions complement recently opened stores like The Beaufort Bonnet Company, an upscale children’s lifestyle apparel brand located at 5515 Kelvin Drive Suite 120 and Paper Source, a haven for stationery enthusiasts and craft lovers, located just steps away at 5515 Kelvin Dr. Suite 100. Rice Village is also home to a number of restaurants, including Navy Blue, Hamsa, and Sixty Vines.

Courtesy of Rice Village

Shoppers in Rice Village will have more options, with three new retailers set to open in the coming weeks.

rice village openings shopping ice-cream