Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Profile America Facts for Features: Labor Day 2012: Sept. 3rd

*Labor Day 2012: Sept. 3*

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?*

* *

*155.2 million *

Number of people 16 and older in the nation’s labor force in June 2012.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*Employee Benefits*

* *

*85.0%*

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

of 2010.

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010, derived

from Table 8

*Our Jobs*

Americans worked in a variety of occupations in 2010. Here is a sampling:

*Occupation Number of employees*

Actors 7,835

Computer programmers 389,471

Cooks 1,051,896

Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists 395,311

Janitors and building cleaners 1,445,991

Teachers (preschool – grade 12) 3,073,673

Telemarketers 48,455

Telephone operators 33,057

Web developers 115,561

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B24124

*26.3 million*

Number of female workers 16 and older in management, business, science, and arts occupations in 2010. Among male workers, 16 and older, 23.7 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table C24010

*1.4%*

Percentage increase in employment in the United States between December 2010 and

December 2011. Employment increased in 266 of the 322 largest counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*5.3%*

Percentage increase in Kern County, Calif., between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest increase in employment among the 322 largest counties. Harris County, Texas, had the highest level increase of 62,700 jobs.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*3.4%*

Percentage decline in employment in Benton County, Wash., between December 2010 and December 2011, the largest percentage decrease among the nation’s 322 largest counties.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

*5.9 million*

The number of people who worked from home in 2010.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B08128

*Another Day, Another Dollar*

*$47,715 and $36,931*

The 2010 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.

Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010

*Early, Lonely and Long — the Commute to Work*

*16.3 million*

Number of commuters who left for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. in 2010. They represent

12.5 percent of all commuters.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B08132

*76.6%*

Percentage of workers who drove alone to work in 2010. Another 9.7 percent carpooled and

4.9 percent took public transportation (excluding taxicabs).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table DP03

*25.3 minutes*

The average time it took people in the nation to commute to work in 2010. Maryland and New York had the most time-consuming commutes, averaging 31.8 and 31.3 minutes, respectively.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table R0801

*3.2 million*

Number of workers who faced extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day in 2010. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey, Table B08012

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

*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; or e-mail: .

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 
Rendered 03/28/2024 18:14