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Happy Labor Day, retailers! We know, we know. You’d rather be sipping margaritas by the pool than reading our blog posts. But before you get your tan on, educate yourself with these 6 feel good facts about Labor Day and America’s current labor condition. You’ll be much more proud of the work you do, making your 3-day weekend that much sweeter.
1. If Labor Day didn’t exist, you’d be working 12 hours a day
Labor Day started in Ontario during the 1870’s when workers went on strike to work less than 12 hours per day (they pushed for 9 hours!). It then spread to New York City where 10,000 workers took unpaid leave and marched from City Hall to 42nd street.
2. Thank Oregon for your 3-day weekend!
In 1887, Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day a public holiday. Then came Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey- and then the rest followed. President Grover Cleveland was the one who signed into law a bill saying that the first Monday in September will be known as “Labor Day.”
3. Labor Day is when dreams come true
On Labor Day in 1955, the very first Waffle House opened in Avondlae Estates, Georgia. Now, Waffle House has over 1500 establishments across the United States. Talk about hard labor!
4. As a retailer, you dominate the work force
Retail salespeople are the largest occupation in America. This is followed by cashiers, food preparation/serving workers, and then office clerks. Interesting fact: In 1910, farm owners and tenants were the largest occupation in the U.S. labor force.
5. The U.S. unemployment rate is decreasing
Over the past 12 months, the unemployment rate has declined by 1.1% while the number of unemployed people decreased by 1.7 million. With more people getting paid, there’s more money to be spent in the local economy. Woohoo!
6. Sales are projected to grow for the rest of 2014
You might have felt that business didn’t really “boom” this summer, but economists are optimistic about retail sales for the rest of the year. The amount that customers spend will be on the increase, they said.
Know other interesting facts about Labor Day? Please share in the comments below!
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