Labor Day is nigh upon us. For me it marks the unofficial end of summer and the unofficial start of the school year. It also reminds me that in a month or two the holidays will be here and another year will have vanished

Here in Los Angeles, Labor Day means one million people go the beach. It was a reported that 2.5 million people would leave LA for this holiday – most by car. Can that many people fit in Las Vegas?

Labor Day was born as a tribute to the American worker and initially served as a day of celebration and demonstration by the nation’s labor unions. We are more than 125 years out from the first Labor Day observance in 1882 when 30,000 workers marched in a parade in New York City.  Two years later the 8-hour work day was instituted. Adopted as a national holiday in 1894, it celebrated "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" and included a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.

Firom the US Department of Labor

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.

Indeed, the labor movement that initiated Labor Day fought for workers rights and benefits that many of us now for granted. For example,

• The 40-hour work week
• Paid vacation
• Minimum wage
• Job Safety standards
• Social Security
• Over-time pay
• Health insurance benefits
• Workers comp

While I believe some of these rights need to be re-examined and adjusted for our changing economy, their importance in developing a workforce that established the US as a world economic power is undeniable.

But the "workingmen's holiday" is less known for honoring labor than is known as the last hurrah for summer parties. This change in remembrance is in part due to the changing nature of the US and global economy and how the labor force has changed over the past few decades.

For example, consider these labor facts:

• There are more self-employed workers (10.6 million) plus independent contractors (10.3) than members of labor unions (15.4 million).
• Union membership grew from 791,000 to 2.6 million 1900 to 1915 and 1 in 4 workers was a union member by 1940. However, the union membership rate has steadily declined from 20.1 percent in 1983 to 12.0 in 2006. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• The median number of years a worker has been with his/her current employer is four
• Technology is enabling the use of distributed, virtual workforces and telecommuting
• As the baby-boom generation ages, the median age of the work force is rising even as the youth labor force (aged 16 to 24) is expected to grow more rapidly than the overall labor force for the first time in 25 years. Bureau of Labor Statistics

So despite a changing economy and labor force, Labor Day can not only be fun but can still be reminder of the great productivity that comes from a committed and trained workforce. As a business owner or boss, express your appreciation for your employees. As an employee, enjoy Labor Day and be grateful for the efforts of past workers whose efforts enable you to enjoy the benefits and rights that are commonplace today.