CB11-FF.16

Aug. 10, 2011

Labor Day 2011: Sept. 5

The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade of 10,000 workers on 

Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by Peter J. McGuire, a Carpenters and Joiners 

Union secretary. By 1893, more than half the states were observing “Labor Day” on one day 

or another, and Congress passed a bill to establish a federal holiday in 1894. President Grover 

Cleveland signed the bill soon afterward, designating the first Monday in September as Labor 

Day. 

Who Are We Celebrating?

153.2 million

Number of people 16 and older in the nation’s labor force in July 2011. 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics <http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf>

Employee Benefits

84.7%

Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part 

of 2009. 

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009

<http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf>

Our Jobs

Americans work in a variety of occupations. Here is a sampling:

Occupation Number of employees

Teachers(preschool – grade 12) 3,039,523

Computer Operators 101,889

Actors 10,980

Telephone Operators 32,394

Bus Drivers 265,429

Bakers 117,405

Telemarketers 55,733

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists 395,503

Janitors and building cleaners 1,478,204
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table B24124

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

26.2 million

Number of female workers 16 and older in management, professional and related occupations. 

Among male workers, 16 and older, 24.0 million were employed in management, professional 

and related occupations.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table C24010

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

0.9%

Percentage change in employment in the United States between December 2009 and 

December 2010. Employment increased in 220 of the 326 largest counties (large counties are 

defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more). 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

<http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cewqtr_06302011.pdf>

5.2%

Percentage change in Elkhart County, Ind., between December 2009 and December 2010, the 

largest increase in employment among the 326 largest counties. New York County had the 

highest level increase of 37,500 jobs. 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 

< http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cewqtr_06302011.pdf>

-4.0%

Percentage decline in employment in Manatee, Fla., between December 2009 and December

2010, the largest percentage decrease among the nation’s 326 largest counties.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

<http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cewqtr_06302011.pdf>

5.9 million

The number of people who work from home. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table B08128

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

Working at Home

8%

Percent of total U.S. workforce that were home-based workers in 2005, an increase from

7 percent in 1999. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/employment_occupations/cb10-10.html>
8.1 million

Number who worked from home exclusively in 2005, an increase from 6.7 million in 1999.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/employment_occupations/cb10-10.html>

11+ hours

About 11 percent of those who worked at home for some or all of their workweek reported 

working 11 or more hours in a typical day in 2005. Only about 7 percent of workers who worked 

outside the home reported doing so.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005 Survey of Income and Program Participation, 

<http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/employment_occupations/cb10-10.html>

Another Day, Another Dollar

$47,127 and $36,278

The 2009 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively. 

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009 

<http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf >

$1,943

Average weekly wage in Santa Clara, Calif., for the fourth quarter of 2010, the highest among 

the nation’s 326 largest counties.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 

<http://www.bls.gov/news.release/archieves/cewqtr_03292011.pdf>

Hot Jobs

53%

Projected percentage growth from 2008 to 2018 in the number of network systems and data 

communication analysts. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any 

other. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other 

is registered nurses (581,500). 

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics < http://www.bls.gov/oco/>

Early, Lonely and Long — the Commute to Work

16.5 million

Number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. They represent 

12.4 percent of all commuters.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table B08132

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

76.1%

Percentage of workers who drive alone to work. Another 10.0 percent carpool and 5.0 percent 

take public transportation (excluding taxicabs).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey Data Profiles, Selected 

Economic Characteristics <http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>
25.1 minutes

The average time it takes people in the nation to commute to work. New York and Maryland had 

the most time-consuming commutes, averaging 31.4 and 31.3 minutes. (They are not 

significantly different from each another.)

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table R0801

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

3.2 million

Number of workers who face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day. 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2009 American Community Survey, Table B08012

<http://www.census.gov/acs/www/>

For detailed information on the data force, visit the Bureau of Labor Statistics at 

<http://www.bls.gov/>

Following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau’s Facts for Features

series:

African-American History Month (February) Labor Day 

Super Bowl Grandparents Day 

Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)

Women’s History Month (March) Unmarried and Single Americans Week 

Irish-American Heritage Month (March)/ Halloween (Oct. 31)

 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May) (November) 

Older Americans Month (May) Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

Cinco de Mayo (May 5) Thanksgiving Day 

Mother’s Day The Holiday Season (December) 

Father’s Day 

The Fourth of July (July 4)

Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26)

Back to School (August)

Editor’s note: The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources and may be subject to sampling 

variability and other sources of error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau’s Public 

Information Office: telephone: 301-763-3030; fax: 301-763-3762; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.