While America's unions now represent just one in ten workers overall, a closer look at the numbers reveals a complex and uneven landscape, from the powerful influence in New York’s classrooms and Hawaii’s public sector to the near absence of collective bargaining in South Carolina’s private industries.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, union membership in the United States stood at 10.0% of the employed workforce, equating to approximately 14.4 million members, down from 10.1% in 2022.
- In 2022, the union membership rate for public sector workers in the US was 32.2%, compared to 6.0% in the private sector.
- As of 2023, New York had the highest union membership rate in the US at 20.4% of employed workers.
- In 2022, union density in the UK was 23.1% of all employees, with 6.6 million members.
- France had a union density of 8.8% in 2021, but collective bargaining coverage at 98.1%.
- Germany's union membership rate was 16.3% in 2021.
- In 1983, US union membership rate was 20.1%, with 19.5 million members.
- By 1990, US union density fell to 16.1%.
- In 2000, US union membership was 12.9%.
- In 2023, education sector union membership rate in US was 33.9%.
- US healthcare and social assistance union rate was 8.7% in 2023.
- Manufacturing union membership in US 7.9% in 2023.
- In 2023, US union membership rate for workers aged 16-24 was 4.1%.
- Ages 25-34 union rate 9.1% in US 2023.
- US workers aged 35-44 had 11.3% union membership in 2023.
US union membership declined slightly in 2023 and remains much higher in the public sector.
Demographics
- In 2023, US union membership rate for workers aged 16-24 was 4.1%.
- Ages 25-34 union rate 9.1% in US 2023.
- US workers aged 35-44 had 11.3% union membership in 2023.
- Ages 45-54 peak at 12.4% union rate in US 2023.
- US 55-64 year olds union rate 11.8% in 2023.
- Workers 65+ had 7.5% union membership in US 2023.
- In 2023, US men union rate 10.5%, women 9.5%.
- White non-Hispanic US union rate 9.3% in 2023.
- Black US workers 11.8% unionized in 2023.
- Hispanic 9.5%, Asian 7.2% union rates US 2023.
- High school graduates no college US union rate 11.7% in 2023.
- Some college US union 10.1% in 2023.
- Bachelor's degree holders 7.0% unionized US 2023.
- Advanced degree US union rate 6.2% in 2023.
- In UK 2022, 16-24 year olds union density 7.8%.
- UK 25-34 union rate 17.2% in 2022.
- UK women union density 25.1%, men 21.2% in 2022.
- Canada young workers 16.6% unionized in 2022.
- Canada women 30.1% union rate vs men 27.9% 2022.
- In Germany, older workers 50+ have 22% union density vs 12% under 30.
- US Northeast Black workers 15.2% unionized 2023.
- Full-time vs part-time gap widened, part-time 5.6% US 2023.
- In Australia, women union rate 13.1%, men 12.0% 2022.
Demographics Interpretation
This data paints a clear, generational portrait of union membership as a lesson learned: American workers seem to cautiously join up after gaining a few years of workplace wisdom, hitting their peak solidarity in their prime earning years, while our British and Canadian counterparts show a much stronger and earlier inclination to collectively bargain, suggesting the American dream still heavily favors going it alone until the shine wears off.
Historical Trends
- In 1983, US union membership rate was 20.1%, with 19.5 million members.
- By 1990, US union density fell to 16.1%.
- In 2000, US union membership was 12.9%.
- US union rate dropped to 11.9% in 2005.
- In 2010, US union density was 11.3%.
- UK union membership peaked at 13 million in 1979, density 55%.
- UK union density fell to 29.3% by 2000.
- In 1980, US manufacturing union rate was 40%.
- By 2021, US manufacturing union rate dropped to 8.5%.
- US private sector union density was 9.8% in 1993 peak post-war.
- Global union membership declined from 168 million in 1995 to 164 million in 2019.
- Sweden union density was 85% in 1980s.
- By 2021, Sweden's rate halved to 65.2%.
- France union density stable around 8% since 1980s.
- Canada union rate 38% in 1980s, now 29%.
- Australia union density 40% in 1996, 12.5% in 2022.
- Germany union membership 11 million in 1991, 6 million in 2021.
- US construction union rate 30% in 1983, 12.3% in 2023.
- US public education union rate stable at ~35% since 1990s.
- In UK, manufacturing unions fell from 50% density in 1970s to 25% in 2022.
- US union membership rate for ages 45-54 peaked at 18% in 1980s.
Historical Trends Interpretation
The global story of union membership reads like a slow-motion retreat, with even the mightiest labor fortresses seeing their once-bustling halls grow quiet as their walls gradually thin.
Impacts
- Union members in US earn 18.8% more weekly in 2023.
- Union workers have 27% higher wages controlling for factors per EPI 2022.
- Unionization reduces income inequality, US Gini 5 points lower with unions.
- Unions associated with 10-20% lower quit rates in workplaces.
- Union workers 28% more likely to have employer health coverage US.
- 54% of union vs 34% nonunion have pensions US 2023.
- Unions increase productivity by 12% per studies.
- In UK, union workers earn 12.5% premium 2022.
- Canadian union wage premium 12-15% 2022.
- Unions reduce racial wage gaps by 10 points US.
- Gender wage gap 5 points smaller in unionized US workplaces.
- Union density correlates with higher minimum wages in states.
- Strikes in 2023 led to 15% wage gains in US auto.
- Unionized firms invest more in training per hour.
- Lower injury rates 20% in union US workplaces.
- Unions boost voting turnout by 6 points US.
- In OECD, higher union density links to lower inequality.
- Swedish unions contribute to 90% bargaining coverage.
Impacts Interpretation
While some may dismiss unions as relics, the data paints them as a remarkably effective Swiss Army knife for the modern workforce, simultaneously boosting pay, benefits, safety, equality, and even democracy with a stubbornly impressive efficiency.
International Comparisons
- In 2022, union density in the UK was 23.1% of all employees, with 6.6 million members.
- France had a union density of 8.8% in 2021, but collective bargaining coverage at 98.1%.
- Germany's union membership rate was 16.3% in 2021.
- Iceland led with 90.5% union density in 2021.
- Denmark's union density was 67.0% in 2021.
- Sweden had 65.2% union density in 2021.
- Finland's rate was 58.8% in 2021.
- Belgium union density 49.7% in 2021.
- Norway 50.4% union density in 2021.
- Italy 34.5% union density in 2021.
- Canada union membership rate 29.0% in 2022.
- Australia 12.5% union density in 2022.
- Japan 16.5% union density in 2021.
- South Korea 9.9% union density in 2021.
- Spain 13.8% union density in 2021.
- Netherlands 16.5% union density in 2021.
- Austria 26.6% union density in 2021.
- Switzerland 15.8% union density in 2021.
- Portugal 13.2% union density in 2021.
- Greece 20.1% union density in 2021.
International Comparisons Interpretation
While the UK proudly boasts a respectable union headcount, the true power play is revealed in France's astonishing collective bargaining coverage, proving that sometimes influence is measured not by who's on the roster, but by who gets a seat at the table.
National Rates
- In 2023, union membership in the United States stood at 10.0% of the employed workforce, equating to approximately 14.4 million members, down from 10.1% in 2022.
- In 2022, the union membership rate for public sector workers in the US was 32.2%, compared to 6.0% in the private sector.
- As of 2023, New York had the highest union membership rate in the US at 20.4% of employed workers.
- In 2023, Hawaii's union membership rate was 19.9%, the second highest in the US.
- South Carolina had the lowest union membership rate in the US in 2023 at 1.5%.
- In 2023, union membership among full-time workers in the US was 11.0%, versus 5.6% for part-time workers.
- The US union membership rate for men was 10.5% in 2023, slightly higher than 9.5% for women.
- In 2023, Black workers in the US had a union membership rate of 11.8%, higher than 9.3% for White workers.
- Hispanic workers' union membership rate in the US was 9.5% in 2023.
- Asian workers in the US had a 7.2% union membership rate in 2023.
- In 2023, the median weekly earnings for union members in the US were $1,263, 18.8% higher than $1,063 for nonunion workers.
- US union membership in education, training, and library occupations was 34.6% in 2023.
- Protective service occupations had a 31.6% union membership rate in the US in 2023.
- In transportation and warehousing, US union membership was 17.4% in 2023.
- Utilities industry union membership rate in the US reached 22.9% in 2023.
- In 2023, telecommunications had a 15.9% union membership rate in the US.
- Construction union membership in the US was 12.3% in 2023.
- Retail trade saw only 4.3% union membership in the US in 2023.
- Finance and insurance had 1.2% union membership rate in the US in 2023.
- In leisure and hospitality, US union membership was 3.9% in 2023.
- Professional and business services union rate was 1.8% in the US in 2023.
- In 2023, local government union membership in the US was 40.6%.
- State government union rate was 29.3% in the US in 2023.
- Federal government union membership was 27.7% in the US in 2023.
- Private sector wage and salary workers' union rate was 5.9% in the US in 2023.
- Public sector union membership rate was 32.9% in the US in 2023.
- In 2023, union members accounted for 10.2% of full-time wage and salary workers in the US.
- Nonunion workers' rate was implicitly 89.8% in the US in 2023.
- Northeast region union rate was 13.8% in the US in 2023.
- Midwest union membership rate was 11.1% in the US in 2023.
National Rates Interpretation
Despite a powerful legacy and clear wage benefits, the union movement in America now resembles a lopsided archipelago where public sector islands of collective strength stand tall amidst a vast private sector sea of individual bargaining.
Sector Specific
- In 2023, education sector union membership rate in US was 33.9%.
- US healthcare and social assistance union rate was 8.7% in 2023.
- Manufacturing union membership in US 7.9% in 2023.
- US mining union rate 11.5% in 2023.
- Construction sector US union density 12.3% in 2023.
- Wholesale trade union rate 4.8% in US 2023.
- In UK, public administration and defence had 57.4% union density in 2022.
- UK health and social work union rate 33.8% in 2022.
- UK education union density 45.2% in 2022.
- In Canada, public administration union rate 71.4% in 2022.
- Canada education union density 69.2% in 2022.
- Canada healthcare 54.8% union rate in 2022.
- In Germany, metalworkers union IG Metall represents 3.8 million members in manufacturing.
- US airline industry union rate 36.4% in 2023.
- Rail transportation US union density 80.2% in 2023.
- US postal service union rate 87.1% in 2023.
- In Australia, mining union density 20.1% in 2022.
- Australia construction unions 15.3% in 2022.
- UK transport and storage union rate 22.5% in 2022.
- In Sweden, municipal workers union density 72% in public sector.
- France construction union rate 20% despite low overall density.
- US arts, design, entertainment union rate 5.8% in 2023.
Sector Specific Interpretation
It seems the unionized world is neatly divided between those who teach, deliver mail, or drive trains in North America, and almost everyone else who simply wishes they could.
Sources & References
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