Quotes & radio sound bites
Labor Day 2003: Sept. 1
The first observance of Labor Day is believed to have been a parade on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York, N.Y., probably 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 a bill to establish it as a federal holiday was introduced in Congress. President Grover Cleveland signed the bill in 1894 designating the first Monday in September as Labor Day.
Who Do We Celebrate
Today?
146.5
million
Number of people age 16 and over in the nation's labor force as of July 2003. Among the nation's workers are 78.2 million men and 68.4 million women.These men and women represent 66 percent of the adult
population. http://www.bls.gov
Another Day, Another
Dollar
$38,275 and
$29,215
The annual median earnings for male and female full-time,
year-round workers in 2001. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-124.html
$65,926
Average annual pay in the San Jose, Calif., metropolitan
statistical area. San Jose has led all metro areas in this category since 1997.
http://146.142.4.22/news.release/anpay2.nr0.htm
$46,963
Average annual pay in Connecticut, first among states. http://146.142.4.22/news.release/annpay.nr0.htm
Our
Jobs
7.3
million
Number of workers who hold down more than one job. These
workers comprise 5 percent of the workforce. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
29
Percentage of workers 16 and over who work more than 40
hours a week. Eight percent work 60 or more hours. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
29
Percentage of wage and salary workers 16 and over employed
full-time who are on flexible schedules. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
3
Percentage of wage and salary workers 16 and over employed
full-time who work the night shift. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
47
Percentage of employed
civilian workers 16 and over in the Corvallis, Ore., metro area who work in
management, professional and related occupations. Corvallis is one of six
"college towns" among the 10 metro areas with the highest percentages for these
occupations. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-123.html
- In Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, N.C., 34 percent of workers are employed in production, transportation and material moving jobs, among the highest rates for the nation's metro areas. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2003/cb03-123.html
16.3
million
Number of labor union members nationwide. About 14 percent
of wage and salary workers belong to unions, with New York having the highest
rate among states, 27 percent. The lowest rate, 4 percent, belongs to North
Carolina. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
Health insurance
84
Percentage of
full-time workers ages 18 to 64 with health insurance coverage during all or
part of 2001. For part-time workers, the corresponding percentage was 78
percent. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/2002/cb02-127.html
Hot Jobs
100
Projected percentage
growth this decade in the number of people employed as computer applications
software engineers. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate
than any other. http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
673,000
Projected increase in the number of combined food preparation and serving (e.g., fast food)
workers during this decade. This occupation is expected to add more positions than any other.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/02statab/labor.pdf
The following is a list of observances typically covered by the Census Bureau's Facts for Features series, which can be found at http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/factsheets.html :
African-American History Month
(February) Back
to School (August)
Valentine's Day (Feb.
14) Labor
Day (Sept. 1)
Women's History Month
(March) Grandparents
Day (Sept. 7)
St.
Patrick's Day (March
17) Hispanic
Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15)
Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month
(May) Halloween
(Oct. 31)
Older Americans Month
(May)
American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month
Mother's Day (May
11)
(November)
Father's Day (June
15) Veterans Day
(Nov. 11)
The Fourth of July (July
4)
Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27)
Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act (July 26) The Holiday Season (December)
Editor's note: Some of the preceding data were collected in surveys and, therefore, are subject to sampling error. Questions or comments should be directed to the Census Bureau's Public Information Office: telephone: (301) 763-3030; fax: (301) 457-3670; or e-mail: <pio@census.gov>.
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