2010 Census Shows Labor Force Changing

The work force in the United States is changing. Here are some interesting 2010 U.S. Census and general census figures to mull over as we approach the Labor Day weekend:

153.2 million: The number of people, 16 and older, who makes up the nation’s labor force as of July, 2011. 

5.9 million: The number of people who work from home. 

84.7%: The percentage of full-time workers 18 to 64 covered by health insurance during all or part of 2009.

26.2 million: The number of female workers 16 and older in management, professional and related occupations. Among male workers, 16 and older, 24.0 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations.

0.9%: The percentage change in employment in the United States between December 2009 and December 2010. Employment increased in 220 of the 326 largest counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more).

$47,127 and $36,278: The 2009 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.

53%: The projected percentage growth from 2008 to 2018 in the number of network systems and data communication analysts. Forecasters expect this occupation to grow at a faster rate than any other. Meanwhile, the occupation expected to add more positions over this period than any other is registered nurses (581,500).

16.5 million: The number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. They represent 12.4 percent of all commuters.

76.1%: The percentage of workers who drive alone to work. Another 10.0 percent carpool and 5.0 percent take public transportation (excluding taxicabs).

25.1 minutes: The average time it takes people in the nation to commute to work. New York and Maryland had the most time-consuming commutes, averaging 31.4 and 31.3 minutes. (They are not significantly different from each another.)

3.2 million: The number of workers who face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau