Labor Day: What Americans Think About the Federal Holiday

WalletHub, a personal-finance company, reported on what Americans think about Labor Day, which is celebrated on the first Monday in September every year. This nationally-representative survey examines Americans’ Labor Day beliefs and plans and how people have been impacted by the current economic environment.

WalletHub said:

"Labor Day serves as both a celebration of American workers and an opportunity to reflect on the economic challenges they face, including the effects of inflation."

Labor Day Survey

• 55% of people think tariffs and inflation are erasing their hard work.
• 7 in 10 people say they’re working harder this year than last year.
• 2 in 5 Americans are concerned that artificial intelligence (AI) will take their jobs.
• Nearly 3 in 5 Americans say it’s not easy to get a job right now.

• 93% of people think companies should offer financial wellness tools to employees.
• Nearly 3 in 5 Americans say they don’t have a budget for Labor Day spending.
• 59% of Americans think there are some good Labor Day sales.
• Nearly 37% of Americans say Labor Day expenses lead them to overspend.

Historical Facts About Labor Day

Think about President Lyndon B. Johnson while enjoying the three-day weekend. He was the one who signed the Uniform Holiday Bill into law in 1968. The bill assured that Labor Day would always be on a Monday to give workers and their families a three-day weekend.

While Labor Day is primarily a U.S. holiday, it is also celebrated in Canada. Many other countries recognize their laborers on what's known as International Workers' Day, also referred to as May Day or Labour Day.

Today, Labor Day is celebrated as a federal and national holiday. Before becoming an official holiday nationwide, Labor Day was adopted state by state. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Oregon was the first state to make it a statewide holiday, a full seven years before it was passed by Congress.

Labor Day is 143 years old. The first Labor Day celebrations occurred on September 5, 1882, when nearly 25,000 union members and their families lined the streets of Lower Manhattan near City Hall to protest long hours and harsh work conditions. Congress eventually made the day a federal holiday in 1894.

Fun Facts About Labor Day

Labor Day is marked as a national day off from work. On that day, many people attend parades hosted by their cities and towns. Other Labor Day activities include picnics, barbecues, parties, and even fireworks.

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans consume approximately 7 billion hot dogs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. This equates to 818 hot dogs eaten every second!

Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. Some historians believe that affluent groups in the 1900s often wore white to separate themselves from the working class. On the other hand, laborers wore darker clothing to hide dirt and stains from a hard day’s work. It eventually became socially acceptable that people who could not afford to take fall and winter vacations should not wear bright clothing after the last unofficial day of summer.

That rule is a thing of the past, and there are no restrictions on what people should or should not wear after Labor Day. Some women and men wear white all year long.

Labor Day Closings

Because it is a federal holiday, the following businesses will be closed.

• Most federal, state, and local government offices
• Banks
• Post Office
• Schools

Department stores and restaurants are usually not closed on holidays. In fact, some retailers have some of their best sales during the long weekend.