Illustration of the first Labor Day Parade at Union Square, NYC, 1882. Image/manhattanvirtualoffice.com

We have before us another Federal holiday, one that does not call on our memories of lost war heroes or religious beliefs but instead it calls on something else, something that set the United States of America apart from the rest of the world, the American worker.

The first Monday of September is reserved to celebrate Labor Day. It has been that way officially since President Grover Cleveland signed it into law in 1894. This was part of the big unions attempt to get the blue collar workers recognized by giving them a day off to celebrate their contribution to the working world. For many of us, as children we remember returning to school after the summer break only to get another day off just a week or two later. For others, it symbolizes the end of the summer or the beginning of football season. For many, it unfortunately means another unemployment check. The truth is, Labor Day was meant to celebrate much more than a day off from school or work, instead this “holiday” represents something more significant, the labor force that made the USA number one in the world.

The Department of Labor emphasizes the efforts of the American worker stating:

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

So this Labor Day one has to ask- What is there to celebrate?

Let’s consider the 9.6 percent unemployment rate the country is facing right now. That is a whopping 14.9 million Americans. The rate of unemployment hasn’t really changed any since the same period a year ago, a problem for many who are facing an eventual expiration of unemployment benefits. Instead of getting lost in labor statistics, the fact is American’s just aren’t working.

In a recent article in the WSJ, they discovered something quite the opposite of a lack of jobs, instead they found a lack of applicants. A Flying J truck stop is getting the same number of applicants as they did when the unemployment rate was 5%. And a machine shop in Bloomington, Ill, Mechanical Devices, had a spike in business and cannot fill the work load as a result of a lack of machinists, which are being hired on at $13 an hour.

So why aren’t people rushing to get these jobs?  Is it a lack of relevant skill or job knowledge? Are they not able to sell their homes and relocate due to a drop in home value? Maybe they are satisfied with Uncle Sam paying their bills. It is always easier to say you’re looking for employment than to actually go out and do it.

So can one truly celebrate Labor Day without the “labor”. The answer is YES. Think back to the industrialized nation that the United States once was. We produced steel and cars, and we had machinists and garment workers. We had something that we produced, something that we could be proud of. Today, we are still producers, just in a different capacity. With the greatest minds in the world residing in our great republic, in the past and present we have invented the disposable razor, air conditioning, crayons, airplanes, radios, washing machines, compact discs, soft serve ice cream, corn dogs, chemotherapy, the Heimlich maneuver, GPS and the internet.
So, as we hopefully embark on a year of better employment we have lots to be thankful for everyday, including Labor Day.

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