At a recent Labor Day rally, Vice President Kamala Harris claimed that labor unions were instrumental in establishing the five-day workweek. However, historical data presents a more nuanced picture. According to a recent analysis, the average workweek in the United States was nearly 70 hours in the 1830s, which gradually decreased to about 48 hours by 1929, and then to 40 hours shortly thereafter. Notably, this reduction in working hours occurred prior to the rise of labor unions in the late 1930s. A survey of economic historians revealed that only 5% agreed with Harris's assertion that unions were primarily responsible for this change, while over 70% attributed the decline in work hours mainly to economic growth and advancements in technology. [43632b0c]
The decade from 1909 to 1919 saw a significant drop in working hours, with electrification accounting for approximately 30% of the reduction. This suggests that improvements in productivity and technology played a critical role in shaping the modern workweek, rather than union efforts alone. The analysis indicates that strikes and unionization accounted for less than 10% of the reduction in working hours, highlighting the complex interplay between economic forces and labor movements throughout history. The author argues that the power industry deserves considerable credit for the establishment of the shorter workweek, emphasizing the importance of economic expansion as the main driver behind this significant change. [43632b0c]