BY THE NUMBERS LABOR DAY 10,000 1894 U.S. civilian labor force Ohio civilian labor force The estimated number of workers who participated in a New York parade during what is recognized as the first observance of Labor Day on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. The year Congress passed a bill to establish a federal Labor Day holiday. 157 5.7 million: million: The year in which the 8-hour day was firmly established with the passage of the Adamson Act. This was the first federal law regulating hours of workers in private companies. 1916 Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Department of Labor Farmers’ Almanac Average national hourly earnings 1:21 a.m. on Sept. 23 While many people view Labor Day weekend as the end of summer, summer doesn’t officially end until this time and date. $24.99