Happy Labor Day! Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers and specifically honors the legacy and ongoing work of the nation’s labor unions. It’s an annual national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country. And it’s the perfect opportunity to salute New Jersey’s healthcare workers who are on the front lines taking care of New Jersey 24/7/365.

New Jersey hospitals employ about 140,000 individuals. Thousands more across our state are employed by nursing homes, home health agencies, rehabilitation facilities and other healthcare sites. All told, the healthcare sector is the second-largest source of jobs in the Garden State. Their contributions to New Jersey’s economy are essential to our state’s economic well-being. Those 140,000 hospital jobs bring with them $8 billion in annual salaries and $400 million in state income taxes.

But the added value of healthcare workers’ care, compassion and commitment is immeasurable. Those dedicated individuals serve more than 18 million hospital patients each year, including 3.7 million people who come to hospital emergency rooms in dire need of help. They will be there for you this holiday weekend, as they are every day of the year.