Union membership covered 10.0% of employed US workers in 2023, or about 14.4 million people. The gaps are wide across the workforce, from 20.4% in New York to 1.5% in South Carolina and from 32.2% in the public sector to 6.0% in the private sector. These statistics map where unions remain strong and how they affect pay, benefits, and inequality.
Key Takeaways
- 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.
- 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%.
- 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.
- 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 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, US union membership was 10.0%, with young workers lowest and union jobs paying more and reducing inequality.
Related reading
01 · Category
Demographics23 stats
01
In 2023, US union membership rate for workers aged 16-24 was 4.1%.
02
Ages 25-34 union rate 9.1% in US 2023.
03
US workers aged 35-44 had 11.3% union membership in 2023.
04
Ages 45-54 peak at 12.4% union rate in US 2023.
05
US 55-64 year olds union rate 11.8% in 2023.
06
Workers 65+ had 7.5% union membership in US 2023.
07
In 2023, US men union rate 10.5%, women 9.5%.
08
White non-Hispanic US union rate 9.3% in 2023.
09
Black US workers 11.8% unionized in 2023.
10
Hispanic 9.5%, Asian 7.2% union rates US 2023.
11
High school graduates no college US union rate 11.7% in 2023.
12
Some college US union 10.1% in 2023.
13
Bachelor's degree holders 7.0% unionized US 2023.
14
Advanced degree US union rate 6.2% in 2023.
15
In UK 2022, 16-24 year olds union density 7.8%.
16
UK 25-34 union rate 17.2% in 2022.
17
UK women union density 25.1%, men 21.2% in 2022.
18
Canada young workers 16.6% unionized in 2022.
19
Canada women 30.1% union rate vs men 27.9% 2022.
20
In Germany, older workers 50+ have 22% union density vs 12% under 30.
21
US Northeast Black workers 15.2% unionized 2023.
22
Full-time vs part-time gap widened, part-time 5.6% US 2023.
23
In Australia, women union rate 13.1%, men 12.0% 2022.
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographics perspective, US union membership is highest among prime working ages, peaking at 12.4% for ages 45 to 54 in 2023, while it is much lower for young workers at just 4.1% for ages 16 to 24.
02 · Category
Historical Trends21 stats
01
In 1983, US union membership rate was 20.1%, with 19.5 million members.
02
By 1990, US union density fell to 16.1%.
03
In 2000, US union membership was 12.9%.
04
US union rate dropped to 11.9% in 2005.
05
In 2010, US union density was 11.3%.
06
UK union membership peaked at 13 million in 1979, density 55%.
07
UK union density fell to 29.3% by 2000.
08
In 1980, US manufacturing union rate was 40%.
09
By 2021, US manufacturing union rate dropped to 8.5%.
10
US private sector union density was 9.8% in 1993 peak post-war.
11
Global union membership declined from 168 million in 1995 to 164 million in 2019.
12
Sweden union density was 85% in 1980s.
13
By 2021, Sweden's rate halved to 65.2%.
14
France union density stable around 8% since 1980s.
15
Canada union rate 38% in 1980s, now 29%.
16
Australia union density 40% in 1996, 12.5% in 2022.
17
Germany union membership 11 million in 1991, 6 million in 2021.
18
US construction union rate 30% in 1983, 12.3% in 2023.
19
US public education union rate stable at ~35% since 1990s.
20
In UK, manufacturing unions fell from 50% density in 1970s to 25% in 2022.
21
US union membership rate for ages 45-54 peaked at 18% in 1980s.
Interpretation
Historical Trends Interpretation
Looking at historical trends, US union density steadily slid from 20.1% in 1983 to 11.3% by 2010 while the UK union movement also peaked earlier at 13 million members in 1979 with 55% density.
03 · Category
Impacts18 stats
01
Union members in US earn 18.8% more weekly in 2023.
02
Union workers have 27% higher wages controlling for factors per EPI 2022.
03
Unionization reduces income inequality, US Gini 5 points lower with unions.
04
Unions associated with 10-20% lower quit rates in workplaces.
05
Union workers 28% more likely to have employer health coverage US.
06
54% of union vs 34% nonunion have pensions US 2023.
07
Unions increase productivity by 12% per studies.
08
In UK, union workers earn 12.5% premium 2022.
09
Canadian union wage premium 12-15% 2022.
10
Unions reduce racial wage gaps by 10 points US.
11
Gender wage gap 5 points smaller in unionized US workplaces.
12
Union density correlates with higher minimum wages in states.
13
Strikes in 2023 led to 15% wage gains in US auto.
14
Unionized firms invest more in training per hour.
15
Lower injury rates 20% in union US workplaces.
16
Unions boost voting turnout by 6 points US.
17
In OECD, higher union density links to lower inequality.
18
Swedish unions contribute to 90% bargaining coverage.
Interpretation
Impacts Interpretation
Under the Impacts angle, union membership in the US is linked to better pay and benefits with members earning 18.8% more weekly in 2023, enjoying 28% higher odds of employer health coverage, and seeing pensions at 54% versus 34% for nonunion workers.
More related reading
04 · Category
International Comparisons20 stats
01
In 2022, union density in the UK was 23.1% of all employees, with 6.6 million members.
02
France had a union density of 8.8% in 2021, but collective bargaining coverage at 98.1%.
03
Germany's union membership rate was 16.3% in 2021.
04
Iceland led with 90.5% union density in 2021.
05
Denmark's union density was 67.0% in 2021.
06
Sweden had 65.2% union density in 2021.
07
Finland's rate was 58.8% in 2021.
08
Belgium union density 49.7% in 2021.
09
Norway 50.4% union density in 2021.
10
Italy 34.5% union density in 2021.
11
Canada union membership rate 29.0% in 2022.
12
Australia 12.5% union density in 2022.
13
Japan 16.5% union density in 2021.
14
South Korea 9.9% union density in 2021.
15
Spain 13.8% union density in 2021.
16
Netherlands 16.5% union density in 2021.
17
Austria 26.6% union density in 2021.
18
Switzerland 15.8% union density in 2021.
19
Portugal 13.2% union density in 2021.
20
Greece 20.1% union density in 2021.
Interpretation
International Comparisons Interpretation
International comparisons show a striking divide in union strength, with Iceland reaching 90.5% union density in 2021 while the UK sits much lower at 23.1% in 2022 even though France combines 8.8% density in 2021 with exceptionally high collective bargaining coverage of 98.1%.
05 · Category
National Rates30 stats
01
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.
02
In 2022, the union membership rate for public sector workers in the US was 32.2%, compared to 6.0% in the private sector.
03
As of 2023, New York had the highest union membership rate in the US at 20.4% of employed workers.
04
In 2023, Hawaii's union membership rate was 19.9%, the second highest in the US.
05
South Carolina had the lowest union membership rate in the US in 2023 at 1.5%.
06
In 2023, union membership among full-time workers in the US was 11.0%, versus 5.6% for part-time workers.
07
The US union membership rate for men was 10.5% in 2023, slightly higher than 9.5% for women.
08
In 2023, Black workers in the US had a union membership rate of 11.8%, higher than 9.3% for White workers.
09
Hispanic workers' union membership rate in the US was 9.5% in 2023.
10
Asian workers in the US had a 7.2% union membership rate in 2023.
11
In 2023, the median weekly earnings for union members in the US were $1,263,18.8% higher than $1,063 for nonunion workers.
12
US union membership in education, training, and library occupations was 34.6% in 2023.
13
Protective service occupations had a 31.6% union membership rate in the US in 2023.
14
In transportation and warehousing, US union membership was 17.4% in 2023.
15
Utilities industry union membership rate in the US reached 22.9% in 2023.
16
In 2023, telecommunications had a 15.9% union membership rate in the US.
17
Construction union membership in the US was 12.3% in 2023.
18
Retail trade saw only 4.3% union membership in the US in 2023.
19
Finance and insurance had 1.2% union membership rate in the US in 2023.
20
In leisure and hospitality, US union membership was 3.9% in 2023.
21
Professional and business services union rate was 1.8% in the US in 2023.
22
In 2023, local government union membership in the US was 40.6%.
23
State government union rate was 29.3% in the US in 2023.
24
Federal government union membership was 27.7% in the US in 2023.
25
Private sector wage and salary workers' union rate was 5.9% in the US in 2023.
26
Public sector union membership rate was 32.9% in the US in 2023.
27
In 2023, union members accounted for 10.2% of full-time wage and salary workers in the US.
28
Nonunion workers' rate was implicitly 89.8% in the US in 2023.
29
Northeast region union rate was 13.8% in the US in 2023.
30
Midwest union membership rate was 11.1% in the US in 2023.
Interpretation
National Rates Interpretation
National rates show union membership is far stronger in public than private work, at 32.2% versus 6.0% in 2022, even as the overall US rate is 10.0% in 2023.
06 · Category
Sector Specific22 stats
01
In 2023, education sector union membership rate in US was 33.9%.
02
US healthcare and social assistance union rate was 8.7% in 2023.
03
Manufacturing union membership in US 7.9% in 2023.
04
US mining union rate 11.5% in 2023.
05
Construction sector US union density 12.3% in 2023.
06
Wholesale trade union rate 4.8% in US 2023.
07
In UK, public administration and defence had 57.4% union density in 2022.
08
UK health and social work union rate 33.8% in 2022.
09
UK education union density 45.2% in 2022.
10
In Canada, public administration union rate 71.4% in 2022.
11
Canada education union density 69.2% in 2022.
12
Canada healthcare 54.8% union rate in 2022.
13
In Germany, metalworkers union IG Metall represents 3.8 million members in manufacturing.
14
US airline industry union rate 36.4% in 2023.
15
Rail transportation US union density 80.2% in 2023.
16
US postal service union rate 87.1% in 2023.
17
In Australia, mining union density 20.1% in 2022.
18
Australia construction unions 15.3% in 2022.
19
UK transport and storage union rate 22.5% in 2022.
20
In Sweden, municipal workers union density 72% in public sector.
21
France construction union rate 20% despite low overall density.
22
US arts, design, entertainment union rate 5.8% in 2023.
Interpretation
Sector Specific Interpretation
Within the sector specific view, union membership varies sharply across US industries in 2023, ranging from a high of 33.9% in education to a low of 4.8% in wholesale trade.
report visual · Projection
US union membership has declined over time
Union membership in the US fell from about one-fifth in the early 1980s to around 12% by 2000 and below 12% in the mid-2000s.
20.1 Union membership rate (%)
Start
-1.73%
CAGR · 40y
10 Union membership rate (%)
Projected
20232063
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Daniel Varga. (2026, February 13). Union Membership Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/union-membership-statistics
MLA
Daniel Varga. "Union Membership Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/union-membership-statistics.
Chicago
Daniel Varga. 2026. "Union Membership Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/union-membership-statistics.
Sources & references
13 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level