This year Labor Day in the U.S. falls on September 7. It is a federal holiday created in 1894 in response to unions’ urgings. This year’s event emphasizes treating workers with dignity.
Here are some interesting factoids about the labor market in the U.S. today:
There are about 123.14 million people employed full-time (defined for this purpose as at least 35 hours).
Involuntary part-time workers (those doing so for economic reasons and not by choice) is 6.3 million.
The number of long-term unemployed (jobless for 27 weeks or more) is 2.2 million.
There are 668,000 discouraged workers who have stopped looking for work because they believe there are no jobs available for them.
There are 14.6 million union members, which is about 11.1% of the workforce (but only about 7% are in the private sector).
Find more about Labor Day in the U.S. from the Department of Labor.
Note: Labour Day in Canada is also celebrated on September 7. Find details here.
National Small Business Owners Day?
The idea was suggested last year by my friend Jim Blasingame as a way to honor the importance of small business owners. As he put it, small business owners sign the front of paychecks. I’m with him!
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