10 facts about American workers
To mark Labor Day, here’s what we know about who American workers are, what they do and the U.S. working environment in general.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
Business & Workplace
All
Business & Workplace
Publications
-
-
Two-thirds of Americans favor raising federal minimum wage to $15 an hour
Democrats are largely united in backing a $15 an hour federal minimum wage. Republican opinion on this issue is more divided.
-
Baby Boomers are staying in the labor force at rates not seen in generations for people their age
The majority of Baby Boomers are still in the labor force: In 2018, 53% of adults ages 54 to 72 were still working or looking for work.
-
About one-in-six U.S. teachers worked second jobs in 2015-16 – and not just in the summer
Classes have ended for the summer at U.S. public schools, but a sizable share of teachers are still hard at work at second jobs outside the classroom.
-
U.S. women near milestone in the college-educated labor force
This year will likely be the first year in which women are a majority of the U.S. college-educated labor force.
-
When should a woman have children if she’s thinking about running for office?
Roughly half of Americans say it’s better for a woman who wants to reach high political office to have children before entering politics. Views are different when it comes to leadership positions in the business world.
-
How Americans see automation and the workplace in 7 charts
Most Americans anticipate widespread job automation in the future, and they generally foresee more negative than positive effects from these advances.
-
For Local News, Americans Embrace Digital but Still Want Strong Community Connection
Nearly as many U.S. adults prefer to get local news online as through a TV set. And while Americans prize community connection from their local news providers, they are largely unaware of the financial challenges they face.
-
A Sampling of Public Opinion in India
Most Indians are satisfied with their country’s direction and the economic prospects of the next generation despite dissatisfaction over issues including unemployment and the efficacy of elections.
-
Latinos’ Incomes Higher Than Before Great Recession, but U.S.-Born Latinos Yet to Recover
The overall gain in income among Latino workers is driven by a rise in the share of higher-income immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for more years. Yet the incomes of U.S.-born Latinos are still less than since the recession began.
