Monday, September 7, 2015

Fun facts about Labor Day

Take a break from the grindstone and check out these facts about the Labor Day holiday and the American workforce. 9NEWS at 7 a.m. 09/07/15. KUSA

The Tennessean 8:05 a.m. MDT September 7, 2015

A public servant works on her desk(Photo: David Ramos)

THE TENNESSEAN - Take a break from the grindstone and check out these facts about the Labor Day holiday and the American workforce.

LABOR DAY"S GRASSROOTS START

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.

CONGRESS MAKES IT OFFICIAL

Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday in February 1887. In 1894, Congress passed legislation that President Grover Cleveland signed, making the first Monday in September "Labor Day."

RED, WHITE AND BLUE WORKERS

In June 2015, there were 157 million people (ages 16 and up) in the nation"s labor force.

  • 39 percent of U.S. workers are in white-collar professions.
  • 61 percent of U.S. workers are in blue-collar professions

MOST COMMON OCCUPATIONS

As of May 2014, the most common occupations in the U.S. workforce are:

  • Retail salespeople (4.6 million)
  • Cashiers (3.4 million)
  • Food preparation and service workers (3.1 million)
  • Office clerks (2.9 million)
  • Registered nurses (2.7 million)
  • Customer service representatives (2.5 million)
  • Waiters and waitresses (2.4 million)
  • Laborers and freight, stock and material movers (2.4 million)
  • Administrative assistants* (2.2 million)
  • Janitors and cleaners** (2.1 million)

* except legal, medical and executive ** except maids and housekeepers

GROWING QUICKLY

Personal care aide is an occupation expecting to add 580,000 positions to the workforce by 2022, to deal with the aging Baby Boomer population.

EARNINGS FOR MEN AND WOMEN

  • The real median earnings for male, full-time, year-round workers is $50,033.
  • The real median earnings for female, full-time, year-round workers is $39,157.

MEDIAN INCOME OVER THE PAST DECADE

Median income over the past 10 years has risen and then fallen.

  • 2005: $54,865
  • 2006: $54,674
  • 2007: $55,278
  • 2008: $55,689
  • 2009: $56,436
  • 2010: $54,423
  • 2011: $54,059
  • 2012: $52,646
  • 2013: $51,842
  • 2014: $51,758
  • 2015: $51,939

HOW AMERICAN WORKERS GET TO THEIR JOBS

  • 76.4 percent of workers drive solo to their jobs.
  • 9.4 percent carpool to their jobs.
  • 0.6 percent bike to their jobs.

COMMUTE TIMES FOR AMERICAN WORKERS

The average American"s commute to work takes 25.8 minutes.

Maryland has the nation"s longest commute times, with an average of 32.5 minutes.

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Source: http://www.9news.com/story/money/business/2015/09/07/labor-day-facts/71834922/

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