A Half-Century of US Labor Data Shows Steady Retreat From Evening and Night Work

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by msmash

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A new study analyzing 50 years of U.S. labor data reveals a surprising trend: despite the perception of a 24/7 economy, Americans are increasingly moving away from evening and night shifts toward traditional daytime work hours. The share of workers on the job at 11 p.m., for example, has dropped by over 25% since the 1970s. Economists Jeff Biddle and Daniel Hamermesh attribute this shift to rising real incomes, with night work considered an "inferior good" that people avoid as they earn more. Employers now face a higher wage premium to attract workers for undesirable late hours, which has grown by about three percentage points over the period. However, one sector bucks this trend: retail. The rise of big-box chains like Walmart, 24-hour supercenters, and overnight distribution center restocking has increased demand for late-night and early-morning shifts in this industry. While telework during the COVID era might have been expected to spread work across more hours, it actually accelerated concentration into prime daytime hours, particularly among college-educated workers. The study also highlights international variations. France saw a similar pattern of daytime compression from 1966 to 2010, but the U.K. did not, likely due to rapid de-unionization eliminating union wage premiums that previously made night work more attractive. This underscores how broader economic and structural factors shape labor trends. For tech enthusiasts, this shift matters as it reflects broader changes in work patterns driven by technology and economic shifts. While some industries like retail still require late-night operations, the overall trend toward daytime work suggests a redefined value of time and labor across the economy.

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Originally published on Slashdot on 2/19/2026