Labor Day—September 2nd—is here. As we battle to put Americans to work, stimulate the nation's economy and rebuild our manufacturing base, there is much to be grateful for.
 
America’s 155.7 million workers are collectively the most productive in the world. It is this drive and determination that helps make our nation the greatest on Earth. We should all be proud of this fact and do whatever we can to keep this great spirit alive. 
 
Everyone knows that companies are being careful in hiring today.  But if every business with revenues over $5 million would bring just one person on board, it would make a great difference in our 7.4% unemployment rate.  And who knows, the right person could create or advance an idea that would really help the employer.  This is the American way, after all...innovation.
 
The first Labor Day was on September 5, 1882, when some 10,000 workers marched in New York City.
 
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.  In June of that year, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
 
Today, 4,340,000 people work in retail, 2,943,810 are in food services, and 2,633,980 are registered nurses.
 
In 1910 more than 11 million people were involved in farming.  That number is much smaller today – fewer than 3 million.
 
Some 847,500 work for gasoline stations.  Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-service stations.
 
Nearly 16 million of the nation’s 156 million workers are part of a union.
 
The 2011 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers were $48,202 and $37,118 respectively.
 
One of the fastest-growing job categories is personal care aides—there are about 607,000 today—and this field is expected to grow by 70% by 2020.
 
Just under 85% of full-time workers are covered by health insurance.
 
Just over 4% of us work from home.  5.7 million of us leave for work between midnight and 4:59 am, and the average commute from home for a U.S. worker is 25.5 minutes.

Enjoy the day and get ready for the Fall.