The first Monday of every September is Labor Day.

With the picnics, parades and back-to-school sales, we sometimes forget that the purpose of the holiday is to recognize the importance of the American worker. Labor Day became a national holiday at the turn of the 20th century. It was a time when American workers endured miserable conditions, from child labor to unsafe working conditions. 

It was under these conditions that our workers built this country into what it is today. And even though the conditions of workplaces are nowhere near what they were one hundred years ago, the issues we face today significantly affects our workers' livelihoods. Thus, when we talk about interest rates, trade wars, economic growth, the minimum wage and more -- it is the lives of American workers that hang in the balance. 

While we say goodbye to the "unofficial" summer, we must never forget to honor our workers. They are truly the backbone of America. At the end of this week, we will be looking at the employment numbers for August. These numbers represent more than statistics, they represent jobs. And each job is filled by an American worker, many of whom still fight for benefits and better working conditions. We hope everyone had a great Labor Day and are ready for school and cooler weather.