Labor Day 2025: Honoring Workers, Strengthening Our Community

Labor Day 2025: Honoring Workers, Strengthening Our Community

Labor Day isn’t just a holiday—it’s a moment to recognize how hard Americans work, often with fewer protections than workers in peer nations, and to recommit to strengthening labor rights here at home.

National Context
In many developed countries, workers benefit from shorter workweeks, paid family leave, and robust protections. Too many Americans, by contrast, face long hours and limited supports. Labor Day is a reminder that we can—and must—do better.

Ulster County Pride and Progress

• Agriculture remains central, employing nearly 1,800 people and ranking us 4th in New York State. Much of this labor, like construction work, depends on immigrant workers — essential contributors who deserve recognition and security.

• Our creative economy is thriving, generating $537 million in revenue, $148 million in wages, and supporting 3,500 jobs. Arts and culture are not just enrichment — they are a pillar of our economy.

• Beyond that, thousands more work in our largest sectors: trade & utilities, education & health services, and leisure & hospitality.

Real Change at the Local Level
This year, Ulster County took a step forward by adopting a new paid parental leave policy for over 1,400 county employees: 12 weeks of fully paid leave, without using accrued time or payroll contributions. It’s the kind of benefit every worker deserves.

This Labor Day, let’s celebrate the diversity of labor in Ulster County — from gig and immigrant workers, to creative professionals, to public servants — and recommit to building an economy that honors and uplifts them all.