Taking Care of Business
152.8 million people 16 and older in the
Are men 30% better workers than women?
The 2005 annual median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers is $41,386 and $31,858, respectively. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005
From a yet unpublished Statistical Abstract of the
Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker
A sampling of US occupations
Occupation Number of employees
- Teachers 6.8 million
- Farmers and ranchers 784,000
- Hairdressers/hairstylists/cosmetologists 767,000
- Chefs and head cooks 313,000
- Taxi drivers and chauffeurs 282,000
- Firefighters 253,000
- Pharmacists 245,000
- Roofers 242,000
- Musicians, singers and related workers 203,000
- Gaming services workers (gambling) 106,000
- Tax preparers 98,000
- Service station attendants 96,000
Moonlighters
7.6 million workers hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these moonlighters, 4 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job.
310,000 burn the candle at both ends (ouch!)
There are about 310,000 moonlighters who work full time at both jobs.
Working over-time
28% of workers 16 and older work more than 40 hours a week. Eight percent work 60 or more hours a week.
82% covered by health insurance – more importantly 18% are not covered
Percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2005. Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005
77% paid to vacation
Percentage of workers in private industry who receive a paid vacation as one of their employment benefits. In addition:
- 76 percent of workers receive paid holidays.
- 15 percent have access to employer assistance for child care.
- 12 percent have access to long-term care insurance.
- 71 percent have access to medical care, 46 percent to dental care, 29 percent to vision care and 64 percent to outpatient prescription drug coverage.
I don’t need no stinking boss
There are 10.6 million self-employed workers.
Loyalty to self-preservation
Median number of years workers have been with their current employer is 4. About 9 percent of those employed have been with their current employer for 20 or more years.
Independence Day
10.3 million independent contractors. Other workers with alternative work arrangements include 2.5 million on-call workers, 1.2 million temporary help agency workers and 813,000 workers provided by contract firms.
Strength in numbers
There are 15.4 million labor union members nationwide.
“extreme commuters”
3 million people face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)
“no commuters”
4.8 million people work at home. US Census.
Do Unto Others
From 2002 to 2014, the number of home health aides is projected to grow by 56%. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any other. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is retail salespeople (736,000).
Graveyard
15.9 million commuters leave for work between
Only the Lonely
77% of workers who drove alone to work. Another 11 percent car pooled, and 5 percent took public transportation (excluding taxicabs).
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