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Work in America: History, Facts, Statistics, & Leaders Source: iStockRelated Links The History of Labor Day Labor Day by the Numbers—from the U.S. Census Notable Labor Leaders Abel, Iorwith Wilbur Cameron, Andrew Carr Chavez, Cesar Chavez-Thompson, Linda Donahue, Thomas R. Dubinsky, David Fraser, Douglas Andrew Gompers, Samuel Green, William Hillman, Sidney Hoffa, James Riddle Huerta, Dolores Jones, Mary Harris “Mother” Kirkland, Lane Lewis, John Llewellyn Meany, George Murray, Philip Petrillo, James Caesar Powderly, Terence Vincent Quill, Michael Joseph Randolph, Asa Philip Reuther, Walter Philip Schneiderman, Rose Sweeney, John Joseph Wilson, William Bauchop Woodcock, Leonard Freel

Labor Day celebrations: parties, picnics, and poolside afternoons are often associated with this three-day weekend and national holiday, as well as an impressive street parade put on throughout many US capitals and largest cities, from San Francisco to New York City.  But the Labor Day weekend is important for so much more than being a day off! Read on for the History of Labor Day and some quick facts about its origins, economic impacts, and US labor statistics. What Is Labor Day and Why Do We Celebrate It? Labor Day is more than just the unofficial end of summer, going back to school, and a good opportunity to squeeze in some last barbecues with friends and family. The holiday of Labor Day functions as a commemoration for exactly what it sounds like— the social and economic accomplishments of laborers worldwide to improve working conditions. Thanks to the early American workers and activists in the labor movement in the nineteenth century, this federal holiday was proposed in 1882 and the first Labor Day parade was held on September 5th of that year, with President Grover Cleveland signing it into an annual law for the first Monday of September in 1894. Why Is It Called Labor Day? The name “Labor Day” refers primarily to the balance of work and life that early labor movement protestors in the 1800s strove for: instead of unregulated hours and horrendous working conditions, international workers’ advocates championed an even split of labor.  This eventually led to the 8-hour day movement, including 8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, and 8 hours for personal enjoyment, completing a full 24-hour period. What Is the Difference Between Labour Day and Labor Day? Labour Day is also celebrated in Canada, with the spelling utilizing British English, as opposed to the American English spelling of “labor”. However, both annual public holiday dates fall on September 5th, or the first Monday of September, regardless of the country! Labor Day History & Statistics The Labor Day holiday as we know it grew out of the efforts of labor unions over a century ago. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, records indicate the holiday was first proposed in the late 19th century.  Two men are credited with the original idea: Peter J. McGuire, a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire, a machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. Below, you can find details about various economic impacts, employment numbers, and US labor information Earnings Median Income of Households Household Income by Race Per Capita Personal Income More on… Poverty and Income Occupations with the Highest Earnings Occupations with the Lowest Earnings Federal Minimum Wage Rates Median Four-Person Family Income More on… Labor and Employment Earnings by Race and Sex Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s More on… the Wage Gap Earnings by Educational Attainment More on… Education The Equal Pay Act Employment and Wages State Unemployment Compensation Federal Minimum Wage Rates State Minimum Wage Rates 10 Occupations with the Highest Median Earnings Occupations with Highest Median Weekly Earnings Among Women Fastest Growing Occupations Industries with the Fastest Wage and Salary Employment Growth Labor Force Diversity Persons in the Labor Force Youth Employment Trends Youth Employment Status Youth Employers More on… Labor and Employment Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities Leading Occupations of Employed Women Mothers Participating in Labor Force Labor Unions Timeline: Labor Unions History: Labor Unions National Labor Organizations with Membership over 100,000 Union Affiliation of Employed Wage and Salary Workers Union Membership by Occupation More on… Labor Unions American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations International Ladies Garment Workers Union Teamsters Union

 

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Labor Day celebrations: parties, picnics, and poolside afternoons are often associated with this three-day weekend and national holiday, as well as an impressive street parade put on throughout many US capitals and largest cities, from San Francisco to New York City. 

  • The History of Labor Day
  • Labor Day by the Numbers—from the U.S. Census

Notable Labor Leaders

  • Abel, Iorwith Wilbur
  • Cameron, Andrew Carr
  • Chavez, Cesar
  • Chavez-Thompson, Linda
  • Donahue, Thomas R.
  • Dubinsky, David
  • Fraser, Douglas Andrew
  • Gompers, Samuel
  • Green, William
  • Hillman, Sidney
  • Hoffa, James Riddle
  • Huerta, Dolores
  • Jones, Mary Harris “Mother”
  • Kirkland, Lane
  • Lewis, John Llewellyn
  • Meany, George
  • Murray, Philip
  • Petrillo, James Caesar
  • Powderly, Terence Vincent
  • Quill, Michael Joseph
  • Randolph, Asa Philip
  • Reuther, Walter Philip
  • Schneiderman, Rose
  • Sweeney, John Joseph
  • Wilson, William Bauchop
  • Woodcock, Leonard Freel

But the Labor Day weekend is important for so much more than being a day off! Read on for the History of Labor Day and some quick facts about its origins, economic impacts, and US labor statistics.

What Is Labor Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?

Labor Day is more than just the unofficial end of summer, going back to school, and a good opportunity to squeeze in some last barbecues with friends and family. The holiday of Labor Day functions as a commemoration for exactly what it sounds like— the social and economic accomplishments of laborers worldwide to improve working conditions.

Thanks to the early American workers and activists in the labor movement in the nineteenth century, this federal holiday was proposed in 1882 and the first Labor Day parade was held on September 5th of that year, with President Grover Cleveland signing it into an annual law for the first Monday of September in 1894.

Why Is It Called Labor Day?

The name “Labor Day” refers primarily to the balance of work and life that early labor movement protestors in the 1800s strove for: instead of unregulated hours and horrendous working conditions, international workers’ advocates championed an even split of labor. 

This eventually led to the 8-hour day movement, including 8 hours for work, 8 hours for rest, and 8 hours for personal enjoyment, completing a full 24-hour period.

What Is the Difference Between Labour Day and Labor Day?

Labour Day is also celebrated in Canada, with the spelling utilizing British English, as opposed to the American English spelling of “labor”. However, both annual public holiday dates fall on September 5th, or the first Monday of September, regardless of the country!

Labor Day History & Statistics

The Labor Day holiday as we know it grew out of the efforts of labor unions over a century ago. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, records indicate the holiday was first proposed in the late 19th century. 

Two men are credited with the original idea: Peter J. McGuire, a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, and Matthew Maguire, a machinist and secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. Below, you can find details about various economic impacts, employment numbers, and US labor information

Earnings

  • Median Income of Households

  • Household Income by Race

  • Per Capita Personal Income

  • More on… Poverty and Income

  • Occupations with the Highest Earnings

  • Occupations with the Lowest Earnings

  • Federal Minimum Wage Rates

  • Median Four-Person Family Income

  • More on… Labor and Employment

  • Earnings by Race and Sex

  • Women’s Earnings as a Percentage of Men’s

  • More on… the Wage Gap

  • Earnings by Educational Attainment

  • More on… Education

  • The Equal Pay Act

Employment and Wages

  • State Unemployment Compensation

  • Federal Minimum Wage Rates

  • State Minimum Wage Rates

  • 10 Occupations with the Highest Median Earnings

  • Occupations with Highest Median Weekly Earnings Among Women

  • Fastest Growing Occupations

  • Industries with the Fastest Wage and Salary Employment Growth

  • Labor Force Diversity

  • Persons in the Labor Force

  • Youth Employment Trends

  • Youth Employment Status

  • Youth Employers

  • More on… Labor and Employment

  • Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

  • Employment Status of Persons with Disabilities

  • Leading Occupations of Employed Women

  • Mothers Participating in Labor Force

Labor Unions

  • Timeline: Labor Unions

  • History: Labor Unions

  • National Labor Organizations with Membership over 100,000

  • Union Affiliation of Employed Wage and Salary Workers

  • Union Membership by Occupation

  • More on… Labor Unions

  • American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations

  • International Ladies Garment Workers Union

  • Teamsters Union

 

.com/spot/labor2.html

Sources +

Our Common Sources

Our Common Sources

Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population and Rank

  • Top 50 Cities in the U.S. by Population and Rank

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?

The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Current Events This Week: January 2023

African Americans by the Numbers

Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales