Labor Day 2013: Sept. 2
The first observance of Labor Day was likely on Sept. 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers assembled in New York City for a parade.
That celebration inspired similar events across the country, and by 1894 more than half the states were observing a “workingmen’s holiday” on one day or another.
Later that year, with Congress passing legislation and President Grover Cleveland signing the bill on June 29, the first Monday in September was designated “Labor Day.”
This national holiday is a creation of the labor movement in the late 19th century and pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Who Are We Celebrating?
• 155.7 million: Number of people 16 and over in the nation’s labor force in May 2013.
• Our jobs, largest occupations may 2012, number of employees:
– Retail salespeople, 4,340,000;
– Cashiers, 3,314,010;
– Combined food preparation and serving workers, 2,943,810;
– Office clerks, general, 2,808,100;
– Registered nurses, 2,633,980;
– Waiters and waitresses, 2,332,020;
– Customer service representatives, 2,299,750;
– Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, 2,143,940;
– Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping, 2,097,380;
– Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical and executive, 2,085,680;
Largest Occupations in 1910 and number of employees:
• Farmers (owners and tenants), 6,132,000;
• Farm laborers, wageworkers, 2,832,000;
• Farm laborers, unpaid family workers, 2,514,000;
• Operatives and kindred workers, manufacturing, 2,318,000;
• Laborers, nonmanufacturing industries, 2,210,000;
• Laborers, manufacturing, 1,487,000;
• Salesmen and sales clerks, retail trade, 1,454,000;
• Housekeepers, private household–living out, 1,338,000;
• Managers, officials, and proprietors, retail trade, 1,119,000
• Mine operatives and laborers, crude petroleum and natural gas extraction, 907,000;
Miscellaneous
• 847,516 — The number of paid employees who worked for a gasoline station in the U.S. in 2011. Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-service gasoline stations.
• 15.9 million — The number of wage and salary workers age 16 and over represented by a union in 2012.
• 14.5 million — Number of female workers 16 and over in service occupations in 2011. Among male workers 16 and over, 11.2 million were employed in service-related occupations.
• 1.9 percent — Percentage increase in employment in the U.S. between December 2011 and December 2012. Employment increased in 287 of the 328 largest counties.
Another day, another dollar:
• $48,202 and $37,118 — The 2011 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.
Fastest growing jobs:
• 70 percent — Projected percentage growth from 2010 to 2020 in the number of personal care aides (607,000).
Employee benefits:
• 84.7 percent— Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2011.