Labor Day By the Numbers

Labor Day to many people is about a long weekend, time away from the last celebration of the summer.

But, Labor Day was started as a way to honor workers, who labor each day and it is dedicated to honoring the social and economic achievements of American workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The first Labor Day was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City and in 1894 Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September a holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories, according to the Department of Labor.

In honor of the Labor Day holiday we have a few facts about the nation’s laborers.

153.2 Million: The number of people 16 or older who were employed in July, 2011.

26.2 Million: The number of females 16 or older who are employed in management, professional or related careers.

5.9 Million: The number of people who work from home.

$47,127 and $36,278: The median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively, as recorded in 2009.

16.5 Million: The number of workers who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m.

3.2 Million: The number of workers who face a commute of more than 90 minutes.

76.1 Percent: The number of drivers who regularly drive to work alone.

25.1 minutes: The average time it takes to commute to work.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau Facts and Figures