THE WORKPLACE

Labor Day, observed Monday, celebrates 154.5 million American workers. Here’s what the U.S. Census Bureau, using data from 2006, tells us about those workers.

Occupations

7.1 million teachers

778,000 hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists

345,000 chefs and head cooks

333,000 taxi drivers and chauffeurs

288,000 firefighters

269,000 roofers

247,000 pharmacists

170,000 musicians, singers and related workers

111,000 gaming industry (gambling)

104,000 tax preparers

90,000 service station attendants

88,000 logging workers

By the numbers

7.7 million – Number of workers who hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. About 288,000 moonlighters work full time at both jobs.

10.4 million – Number of self-employed workers.

22 million – Number of female workers 16 and older in educational services, and health care and social assistance industries. Among male workers 16 and older, 11.5 million were employed in manufacturing industries.

10.3 million – Number of 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.

15.6 million – Number of labor union members nationwide. About 12 percent of wage and salary workers belong to unions, with Hawaii and New York having among the highest rates of any state. North Carolina has one of the lowest rates, 3 percent.

5.4 million – Number of people who work at home.

Employee benefits

Health insurance: 82 percent of full-time workers ages 18 to 64 are covered by health insurance.

Holidays and vacation: 77 percent of workers in private industry receive a paid vacation and paid holidays.

Child care: 15 percent of private sector workers have access to employer assistance for child care.

Long-term care: 12 percent have access to long-term care insurance.