Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 640

7.6 million

Number of workers who hold down more than one job. So-called moonlighters comprise 5 percent of the working population. Of these, 4 million work full time at their primary job and part time at their other job.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 596

284,000

Number of moonlighters who work full time at two jobs.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 596

10.1 million

Number of self-employed workers.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 592

26.4 million

Number of female workers 16 and older in management, professional and related occupations. Among male workers 16 and older, 24.7 million were employed in management, professional and related occupations.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey

27%

Percentage of workers 16 and older who work more than 40 hours a week. About 7 percent work 60 or more hours a week.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 589

4.1

Median number of years workers have been with their current employer. About 10 percent of those employed have been with their current employer for 20 or more years.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 598

10.3 million

Number of independent contractors.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 595

16.1 million

Number of labor union members nationwide. About 12 percent of wage and salary workers belong to unions, with Alaska, Hawaii and New York having among the highest rates of any state. North Carolina has one of the lowest rates, 3 percent.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 650

-5.3%

Percentage decline in employment in the United States, between September 2008 and September 2009. Employment declined in 329 of the 334 largest counties (large counties are defined as having employment levels of 75,000 or more).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

-14.5%

Percentage decline in Elkhart County, Ind., between September 2008 and September 2009, the largest decline in employment among the 334 largest counties. Los Angles County saw the largest numerical loss over the period: 278,000.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

1.7%

Percentage increase in employment in Yakima County, Wash., between September 2008 and September 2009, the largest percentage increase among the nation's 334 largest counties.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

5.9 million

The number of people who work at home.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey

Another Day, Another Dollar

$46,367 and $35,745

The 2008 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008
 

$1,506

Average weekly wage in Santa Clara, Calif., for the third quarter of 2009, the highest among the nation's 334 largest counties.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

53%

Projected percentage growth from 2006 to 2016 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 (587,000).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as cited in the Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2010, Table 605

17.7 million

Number of commuters who leave for work between midnight and 5:59 a.m. They represent 13 percent of all commuters.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey

76%

Percentage of workers who drive alone to work. Another 11 percent carpool and 5 percent take public transportation (excluding taxicabs).
Source: 2008 American Community Survey

25.5 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 31.6 and 31.5 minutes. (They are not significantly different from one another.)
Source: 2008 American Community Survey

3.5 million

Number of workers who face extreme commutes to work of 90 or more minutes each day.
Source: 2008 American Community Survey