Labor Day: There’s work ahead, but celebrate today
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Labor Day does not serve the same purpose as seasonal divider that it used to. These days, children start school well before, and are already excited for that three-day weekend when it rolls around. Fewer are worried about the change of fashion that used to come when we were all admonished not to wear white after Labor Day. Fewer retailers take advantage of the weekend to post deep discounts, as the date no longer coincides with the need to hold back-to-school sales.
College football is well under way.
But perhaps it is good that the holiday has shed some of the unplanned significance it gained over the years. Perhaps it is better that the day is returning truly to an opportunity to honor the working men and women who built this country and continue to drive its success.
Though it began as an idea of the trade unions and labor movement to celebrate workers, today many of those who would not fit that late-19th Century definition of "worker" know they, too, labor just as much to contribute not only to their personal financial wellbeing and support their families, but to support our nation's ever-growing and diversifying economy.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows our country reached its peak labor force participation more than two decades ago. It has fallen steadily since then, though we have seen a slow recovery from the sharp plunge caused by the pandemic. In July 2022, labor force participation in the U.S. was approximately 62.2%.
We have some --literal -- work to do, on that front.
Parades and backyard gatherings are in order today, however. We do have the strongest, smartest, most well-educated and trained, and diligent work force in the world. It is good news that there is room for improvement and we know so very well that we are capable of making those gains.
But today, it is good to kick back, relax, and celebrate jobs well done.
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"Each year, Labor Day gives us an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions that working men and women make to our nation, our economy and our collective prosperity. It gives us a chance to show gratitude for workers' grit, dedication, ingenuity and strength, which define our nation's character." -- Former U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez
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"Labor Day is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race or nation." -- Labor leader Samuel Gompers