Small business owners are some of the hardest working people in society, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey. Most say government workers work the least.

Over 70% of adults think small business owners work harder than government workers, big corporation employees and corporate CEOs.

Seventy-eight percent (78%) of adults say small business owners work harder than government workers. Just 8% take the opposing stance. More Republicans (80%) than Democrats (70%) think small business owners work harder, along with 86% of unaffiliated voters.

Nearly the same ratio can be found when comparing small business owners to employees of big corporations. While 77% say small business owners work harder, just nine percent (9%) say that of individuals who work at big corporations.

The gap is only slightly smaller between small business owners and corporate chief executive officers. Seventy-two percent (72%) say the former work harder, while 12% say that of CEOs. Republicans and Democrats by nearly identical numbers give the edge to small business owners, and 77% of unaffiliated voters agree.

But individuals who work in the private sector for big corporations are seen as harder workers than government employees. While 56% of adults say employees of big corporations work harder, 22% say that of government workers. Another partisan gap is visible, with 31% of Democrats who say government employees work harder, while just 13% of Republicans agree. Perhaps not surprisingly the unions representing government workers routinely support Democratic candidates. Just one in five unaffiliated voters (20%) believe government employees work harder.

The spread is closest between government workers and corporate CEOs. While 45% say corporate leaders work harder, 34% believe that of government employees. Among Republicans, 59% say CEOs work harder, and 21% say that of government workers. The numbers are reversed among Democrats, with 43% say government employees work harder copared to 34% who feel corporate CEOs do.

Adults who make between $40,000 and $60,000 annually think government employees work harder by a 50% to 30% margin. Those who make between $60,000 and $75,000 are more divided, with 40% who say government employees work harder and 44% who say that of corporate CEOs. Adults who make over $100,000 a year overwhelmingly say CEOs work harder by a 67% to 19% margin.

The Discover (R) Small Business Watch this month finds that confidence among small business owners is on the rise.

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