Labor Day 2024: Date & Meaning

Labor Day: A Transition from Summer to Fall, Honoring Workers' Rights

When is Labor Day?

Labor Day falls on the first Monday of September, occurring on Sept. 2 this year.

Why is Labor Day celebrated?

Labor Day celebrates the achievements of the U.S. labor movement in the late 19th Century. During this period, American workers formed labor unions to fight for better working conditions, reasonable hours, and fair wages (USA TODAY).

The inaugural Labor Day was observed on Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to recognize Labor Day, with Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York following suit that year.

By 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed it into law as a federal holiday, 23 states had already adopted the celebration.