Abigail Tierney
Research expert covering U.S. politics and economics
Labor unions in the U.S. - statistics & facts
Labor unions and their members have long played a key role in shaping the conditions and dynamics of the U.S. labor force. Weekends, workplace safety, health insurance, vacation days, paid sick leave, and retirement benefits are just a few of the lasting achievements made by unions in the United States. Unions first emerged in the U.S. in response to the changing social and economic fabric of the country in light of the Industrial Revolution, and were granted legal protections in the 1930s under the New Deal. The share of workers who were members of unions in the U.S. peaked in 1954 but has been trending downward ever since. In 2023, only around ten percent of U.S. workers were members of labor unions. Although the rate of union membership has declined year on year, 2022 and 2023 saw the number of union members increase for the first time since 2017, and approval of labor unions among the public reached historic highs.
2023 saw labor unions hold the highest number of elections since 2016, with unions winning more than three quarters of them. Over 16 million workers in the U.S. were represented by a union in 2023, an increase of around 200,000 workers from 2022, with the most significant increases among Black or African American workers and Hispanic workers. Additionally, U.S. workers spent a collective 2.5 million days on strike in that year, with the most action being taken on issues of pay. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a reevaluation of Americans working lives, resulting in increasing pay disputes due to record inflation seen throughout 2022, and insufficient wage increases that have left American workers financially worse off. According to a survey 65 percent of Americans indicated that better pay and benefits was the number one reason for joining a union.
Membership has also declined across all racial and ethnic groups. Black and African American workers in the U.S. have maintained the highest rates of union membership since 2000. In 2023, around 11.8 percent of Black or African American workers were members of unions, compared to 9.8 percent of white workers, and nine percent of Hispanic/Latino workers. In a similar vein as the gender pay gap, a racial pay gap persists in the United States, both among union and nonunion workers. While unions have been able to increase average earnings of minority workers, they are still below the wages of unionized white workers. For both Black and Hispanic workers, union membership increases weekly earnings to a similar level of nonunion white workers, but still lag behind the wages of white union workers by around 200 U.S. dollars per week.
Across the private sector, many industries have seen low rates become even lower since 2000. While private sector unionization dropped from nine to six percent between 2000 and 2023, discrepancies can be seen across a variety of industries. The union membership rate in the educational services industry for example, was 11.5 percent in 2000, and 12.9 percent in 2023– a net increase. The mining industry saw union membership drop below the all-industry average in 2013. The professional and business services industry – the industry that employs the most people in the U.S. – has had consistently low rates of union membership dropping slightly from 2.5 percent in 2000 to 2.3 percent in 2023.
2023 saw labor unions hold the highest number of elections since 2016, with unions winning more than three quarters of them. Over 16 million workers in the U.S. were represented by a union in 2023, an increase of around 200,000 workers from 2022, with the most significant increases among Black or African American workers and Hispanic workers. Additionally, U.S. workers spent a collective 2.5 million days on strike in that year, with the most action being taken on issues of pay. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a reevaluation of Americans working lives, resulting in increasing pay disputes due to record inflation seen throughout 2022, and insufficient wage increases that have left American workers financially worse off. According to a survey 65 percent of Americans indicated that better pay and benefits was the number one reason for joining a union.
Demographics and wages
Historically, the average union member has been between the ages of 45 and 54, white, and male. Though in recent years the rate of union membership between men and women has closed. This can mostly be attributed to a sharp decline in the rates of male union membership rather than an increase in the membership of women, although the umber female union members decreased slightly between 2022 and 2023. Unionizing the female workforce has been discussed as one method to close the both the racial and gender pay gap and ensure additional protections for women in the workplace. While unionized men out-earn any other worker, almost every year since 2000, women who are union members have out-earned men who are not members of unions.Membership has also declined across all racial and ethnic groups. Black and African American workers in the U.S. have maintained the highest rates of union membership since 2000. In 2023, around 11.8 percent of Black or African American workers were members of unions, compared to 9.8 percent of white workers, and nine percent of Hispanic/Latino workers. In a similar vein as the gender pay gap, a racial pay gap persists in the United States, both among union and nonunion workers. While unions have been able to increase average earnings of minority workers, they are still below the wages of unionized white workers. For both Black and Hispanic workers, union membership increases weekly earnings to a similar level of nonunion white workers, but still lag behind the wages of white union workers by around 200 U.S. dollars per week.
Membership across industries
The rate of union membership has always been substantially higher in the public sector than in the private sector in the United States. In 2023, an estimated 32.5 percent of public sector workers were union members compared to six percent of private industry workers. This is thought to be in part due to the more dynamic nature of businesses who, unlike more static government agencies, are driven to keep staffing and overall costs low and deliver efficient services in a competitive marketplace.Across the private sector, many industries have seen low rates become even lower since 2000. While private sector unionization dropped from nine to six percent between 2000 and 2023, discrepancies can be seen across a variety of industries. The union membership rate in the educational services industry for example, was 11.5 percent in 2000, and 12.9 percent in 2023– a net increase. The mining industry saw union membership drop below the all-industry average in 2013. The professional and business services industry – the industry that employs the most people in the U.S. – has had consistently low rates of union membership dropping slightly from 2.5 percent in 2000 to 2.3 percent in 2023.
Abigail Tierney
,
Aug 1, 2024
Abigail Tierney
Research expert covering U.S. politics and economics
