Some Labor Day thoughts on work

If it's Labor Day weekend, summer must be over.

Not that the average American who works outside the home notices much difference between summer and fall. The work stays the same. The only real change is in the relative warmth or coolness of the air blasting out of the vent above your head.

That said, you work hard for a living, and you deserve a day off for that reason, if no other.

So, in honor of Labor Day, I thought I would share some statistics from the Census Bureau to show just how many of you are working and what you're doing out there.

The bureau says 151 million people age 16 or older were in the nation's labor force in May 2006. So at least you know you're not alone.

Especially if you're a hairdresser, stylist or cosmetologist. The bureau said 738,000 Americans are employed in those occupations. That compares to 827,000 farmers and ranchers, 317,000 chefs and head cooks, 243,000 firefighters and 291,000 taxi drivers and chauffeurs.

With that many chauffeurs out there, you'd think I'd have one!

Of course, at this particular time of year, we're more likely to be thinking of the 6.8 million teachers employed nationwide. We should be thanking them for coming back to school and teaching our children. (And hoping they haven't been scared off by the first week or two back!)

The Census Bureau also says that, of full-time workers between the ages of 18 and 64, 82 percent were covered by health insurance during all or part of 2004. But can they afford their co-pays?

Furthermore 77 percent of workers in private industry receive a paid vacation as one of their employment benefits, and 77 percent receive paid holidays. As I wrote a few weeks ago, I hope you all enjoyed the former during the last few months. And you should enjoy the latter tomorrow.

I'm sure you will have the day off if you're one of the 5.1 million state government employees recorded by the bureau as of March 2005, or one of the 2.7 million civilian employees of the federal government as of December 2005.

You may not be so lucky if you're one of the 10.5 million self-employed people in the United States. If that is the case, you have my sympathy!

The bureau says 7.5 million Americans hold down more than one job.

"So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population," the bureau said in its press release. "Of these moonlighters, 3.9 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job."