Labor Day 2016 by the Numbers
A breakdown of what we are celebrating this Labor Day.
— -- For many people Labor Day signals the unofficial end of summer. But what exactly does the holiday commemorate?
As the name suggests, the holiday celebrates those of us in the workforce.
There are approximately 158.5 million men and women in the U.S. workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Statistics. Of those workers, the average employed American works 7.6 hours a day.
Sept. 5, 1882, marked the first Labor Day parade, which was held in New York City. However, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a holiday five years later in 1887.
In 1894, President Grover Cleveland made the day a national holiday.
Today, Labor Day has become one of the busiest weekends for travel before the end of summer.
According to AAA's Labor Day travel forecast, an estimated 35.5 million Americans traveled on Labor Day weekend last year.
For those that stay home, it's likely that many will fire up their grill. The Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association found that along with the Fourth of July and Memorial Day, Labor Day is one of the top three holidays for grilling.
The holiday is also associated with the beginning of the school year. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 55 million students will be heading back to the classroom in 2016 -- which means a whole lot of parents with a little more quiet time.
