Celebrating Labor Day: A Tribute to the Hands That Built Our World
Few people know where I got my real start in construction. My dad had an idea: throw this punk kid on a landscaping crew to teach him hard work and the importance of a college degree.
So, for two summers of my life, I pushed mowers, built decks, emptied garbage cans and sweated through every layer of clothing I had. There was nothing glamorous (or safe) about it. I’d come home each night covered in grass, caked in dirt, soaked in sweat and exhausted to the point of collapse before dinner.
But those summers taught me something I’ll never forget: what it feels like to put your body on the line, day after day, in the service of work that shapes the community around you.
No, it wasn’t glamorous. But it was real. And the satisfaction of seeing a freshly trimmed park or a cleaned-up property gave me a small glimpse into what so many trade and craft workers feel every day.
That’s what Labor Day is all about: celebrating the men and women who sweat, strain and sacrifice to make our built world possible.
The Origination of Labor Day
Labor Day didn’t start as a three-day weekend, backyard barbecue or a big retail sale. It started as a movement.
In the late 1800s, America was in the middle of an industrial revolution. Factories churned, railroads stretched across the continent and cities grew at an unprecedented pace. But behind that progress was a workforce grinding through 12-hour shifts, six or seven days a week, in dangerous conditions and for little pay.
There is debate as to who had the idea for Labor Day first: Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor or Matthew Maguire, a machinist and union leader. Either way, the first celebration was organized by New York’s Central Labor Union in 1882 as over 10,000 workers took an unpaid leave to peacefully march from City Hall to Union Square.
Their purpose? To demand recognition and respect for the dignity of labor.
Their idea caught on. In 1887, Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday. A few years later, following the non-peaceful (and lethal) Pullman Strike of 1894, Congress rushed to pass legislation making Labor Day a national holiday. President Grover Cleveland signed it into law just days after the strike.
So, what began as a movement for fair working conditions has evolved into a national tradition of honoring the contributions of workers across every industry. But at its heart, Labor Day remains what it was always meant to be: a tribute to the people whose work makes life possible.
The Impact of the Built World
Nowhere is the spirit of Labor Day more alive than in the trades.
It’s quite staggering. Over 7.7 million Americans work in construction today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. They are the electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, ironworkers and other skilled crafts who keep our projects and our communities running.
They’re the people who build our schools, hospitals, highways, airports and homes. The ones who put steel in the sky, concrete under our feet and power in our walls. Every major milestone in a community’s growth has their hands on it. From the new bridge that cuts down commute times, to the systems that keep drinking water safe, to the stadium that hosts generations of memories, all of them exist thanks to the trades.
The economic impact is astounding. Construction alone adds more than $1.9 trillion annually to the U.S. GDP. But the real impact isn’t just measured in dollars. It’s in the way these dollars create projects that transform neighborhoods, create opportunities and connect people.
For me, Labor Day is a reminder to pause and celebrate the craft. Not just the finished product, but the grit and determination it takes to get there.
There is Purpose in this Work
Remember that “important” college degree my dad (and many others) pushed for? Well, here’s the thing about building: it isn’t just about materials, tools or machinery.
It’s about purpose.
The younger generations entering the workforce today are searching for meaning in what they do. They don’t want just a paycheck; they want to know their work matters. And that’s where the trades shine.
Ask almost any tradesperson why they do what they do and you’ll hear it in their voice: the pride of pointing to something tangible and saying, “I helped build that.”
You see the quotes left and right, like this one from a union ironworker:
“When I drive by a skyline and see the towers I helped set in place, I know my work will outlive me. That’s a legacy.”
Or this one from a carpenter:
“It’s not just wood and nails. It’s a school where kids will learn, a hospital where lives will be saved. That’s what keeps me going.”
Construction has always been about more than just projects. It’s about shaping the world for the better. Every new road, bridge or building carries with it the fingerprints of men and women who found purpose in knowing their work is improving the lives of the communities around them.
And that’s a message worth amplifying to the next generation: if you’re searching for purpose, you’ll find it in construction.
I’ve Said it Before, I’ll Say it Again
As we celebrate Labor Day, let’s remember that behind every skyline, every bridge and every home are people dawning hard hats and high-vis vests, muddy boots and calloused hands., These people pour themselves into their work.
It’s not easy. The days are long, the conditions tough and the labor demanding. But the impact? Monumental.
This isn’t just about taking a day off. This is about honoring the men and women whose labor built our communities and continues to shape our future.
So, to all the craft and trade workers out there: thank you. Thank you for the sweat, the sacrifice, the skill and the pride you bring to your work. Thank you for showing us that purpose isn’t something you wait to find but rather something you create with your hands, your mind and your heart.
And to those considering a future in construction: don’t overlook it. This is an industry where your work matters. Where your legacy is visible in concrete and steel. Where your impact is measured in the lives improved around you.
Because at the end of the day, construction isn’t just necessary…
Construction is cool! Tell your friends.