Yes it is a work, it is justification by works. Proof:
Rom 10:5 Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." (Lev 18:5)
So Moses is being quoted from Lev 18:5. What does the context say? "You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD." Followed by a series of "do not's". Do no commit sexual immorality, "Do not steal. "’Do not lie. bdeceive one another. ’Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD. Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. "’Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight. ’Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD "’Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. Do not go about spreading slander among your people. "’Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD. Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in his guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."
Thus justification by the law, which apparently many misconstrue as being the gospel, is in a large part a matter of not doing things. Those are one's works because those regard one's performance.
This in contrast to justification by faith apart from works, which Paul goes on in Romans 10 to describe:
Rom 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’" (that is, to bring Christ down)
7 "or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 ¶ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
As for your reference to Romans 6, Paul is referring to those who are already save by faith apart from works. He acknowledges such people are no longer under law, but under grace and as such sin has no impact on their eternal destiny.
If you read Romans 6 you find that, contrary to the dogma of salvation by works Christians motivated out of trying to earn salvation by their performance, Paul simply gives rhetorical questions. That is, while those not born of God ask "Why not sin?", those who have been born of God ask "Why sin?". The difference is due to the regenerate nature such that "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." 1John 3:9 This in contrast to salvation by works Christians who can't be motivated to do what is right unless they're threatened with eternal condemnation, and even then they don't characteristically do what is right.
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