Since 1894, Labor Day has been celebrated in the United States on first Monday of September every year.
However, in other parts of the world, Labor Day is commemorated on May 1st; why is it celebrated in September in the United States?
According to United States Department of Labor, this day official federal holidayEstablished by President Grover Cleveland, it is an annual commemoration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
History of Labor Day in the United States
This holiday has its roots in 1885 and 1886, when a movement of labor activists emerged to achieve the enactment of state laws that recognized the contributions of workers.
According to United States Department of LaborNew York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887.
Throughout 1887, four more states—Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York—passed laws establishing Labor Day as a holiday. By the end of the decade, Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit.
By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday; North Carolina was not among them.
State legislative background
Following the growth of the labor movement and the 23 states that officially adopted the holiday, Senator James Henderson Kyle of South Dakota introduced Bill S. 730 to the 53rd Congress (1893–1895) to declare Labor Day an official holiday.
Subsequently, in a report (H. Rept. 902) accompanying bill HR 28 of the 53rd Congress, the House Labor Committee said that the celebration of Labor Day as a national holiday “would tend to foster a common feeling of brotherhood among men of all trades and professions and, at the same time, would awaken in each guild a laudable desire to surpass the others.”
Therefore, on June 28, 1894, Congress passed the law declaring the first Monday of September of each year an official holiday.
Why doesn't the United States celebrate Labor Day on May 1st?
In 1889, a different date to commemorate workers gained prominence: May 1st. This is the date on which Labor Day is celebrated in other countries around the world.
The idea arose during an international meeting of socialists in Paris, who, inspired by the American labor movement, saw in this date a way to commemorate an event that occurred in the United States on May 4: the Haymarket Riot.
The Haymarket Riot
According to Library of CongressA national strike for the eight-hour workday led to clashes, deaths, and a bomb explosion in Haymarket Square, Chicago, on May 4, 1886.
This protest was one of several strikes, demonstrations, and other actions organized by workers and their supporters in Chicago between May 1 and 4 to demand an eight-hour workday.
Because the strike turned violent, May 1 became associated with socialist movements; in 1894, in order to appease an increasingly powerful and organized labor movement, President Cleveland decided to establish an official federal holiday in honor of the nation's workforce.
Information about the work done in North Carolina
Today, Labor Day is commemorated as a holiday marking the end of summer. However, according to the North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management, This date continues to honor the contributions of workers to the building of the nation.
In North Carolina, more than eight out of ten adults in their prime working years (ages 25-44) were part of the workforce in 2024, according to data from My Future NC. This represents 84%, which is the 33rd highest rate among the states.
These data were calculated by Carolina Demography, using data from the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (ACS PUMS) obtained from the United States Census Bureau.
Related: Labor Day: Why is September 1st a special day in the United States?
About Latino workers
According to the U.S. Census, Hispanics or Latinos represent 12.6% of the population of North Carolina, out of a total state population of approximately 11.2 million inhabitants — that is, about 1.4 million people.
According to the dashboard of MyFutureNC (Based on Census/ACS data), the labor force participation rate of Hispanic residents in NC is 82%, with Hispanic men having a participation rate of 91%, while Hispanic women have the lowest rate at 71%.
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