History is a little murky regarding who specifically responsible for the beginning of the tradition. However, the first proposal to create an official holiday came from the Central Labor Union in New York. On September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers assembled to participate in America’s first Labor Day parade. The parade was followed by a picnic, speeches, and a concert.
Three years later, 1885, Central Labor selected the first Monday in September for its celebration. The group encourages others across the nation to do the same in their city. The movement grew. Over the next two decades states and cities began of officially adopt the holiday. Finally, in 1894 Congress declared that the first Monday in September would be Labor Day.
Labor Day is now more associated with the beginning of football season, leisure time, a final trip to the beach or pool and the end of children’s summer vacation than with worker conditions. Change is continual, many states will be two or three weeks into their school year when Labor Day arrives this year and fashion mavens have even declared that the “no white clothing or shoes to be worn after Labor Day” rule is no longer sacrosanct.
American Workers by the Numbers 2020
Statistic | What It Means | Source |
160.7 million | Americans age 16 and older in the civilian labor force. About 147.8 million were employed. | BLS |
6.7 million | Average number of Americans who held more than one job. Multiple-job holders represented about 4.5% of employed people. | BLS |
287,000 | Multiple-job holders who worked full time at both their primary and secondary jobs. | BLS |
8.5 million | Self-employed Americans working in unincorporated nonagricultural businesses. | BLS |
7.3% | U.S. workers who worked from home, based on the 2016–2020 American Community Survey five-year estimates. | Census ACS |
$54,323 and $44,220 | Median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers age 16 and older, respectively. | Census ACS |
74.9% | Workers who drove alone to work. Another 8.9% carpooled, 4.6% used public transportation, 2.6% walked, and 7.3% worked from home. | Census ACS |
Editorial note. Remove the older statistic stating that 17.7 million people left for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. Census departure-time groupings changed, so it is not a clean direct comparison with the newer data.
Source: US Census Bureau 2020
Labor Day Celebrations Across USA
Make the most of the long weekend with simple, memorable ways to relax, celebrate, and enjoy time with family and friends.
5 Famous Labor Day Weekend Events
1. West Indian American Day Carnival
Held in Brooklyn, New York, this is one of the largest and most vibrant celebrations of Caribbean culture in North America. The event culminates on Labor Day with a massive parade down Eastern Parkway featuring spectacular costumes, steel pan music, and authentic island cuisine.
2. Labor Day Lift Off
Colorado Springs hosts this breathtaking hot air balloon festival every Labor Day weekend. Visitors can enjoy mass balloon ascents in the early morning, followed by evening “balloon glows” where the tethered craft light up the night sky against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.
3. Detroit Jazz Festival
As the world’s largest free jazz festival, this event transforms downtown Detroit into a music lover’s paradise. The festival features world-class musicians across multiple stages, celebrating the rich history and future of jazz music in the heart of the city.
4. North Carolina Apple Festival
Hendersonville, North Carolina, celebrates the arrival of autumn with its premier harvest event. The four-day festival features a street fair with over 200 vendors, live entertainment, and the famous King Apple Parade, all centered around the region’s thriving apple-growing industry.
5. Dragon Con
Atlanta becomes the epicenter of pop culture during Dragon Con, one of the nation’s largest multi-genre conventions. The highlight is the annual Saturday parade, where thousands of fans showcase incredibly detailed sci-fi, fantasy, and superhero cosplay to massive cheering crowds.
