Unions commanded big headlines last year, but that didn’t translate into higher membership rates, according to government data released Tuesday.
The
The number of unionized workers in the private sector increased by 191,000 to 7.4 million last year. That includes workers at auto companies,
But the percent of unionized workers in the private sector – 6% -- remained unchanged from the previous year, as unionization rates didn’t keep pace with overall hiring.
The unionization rate for public-sector employees, including government workers, teachers and police, was far higher, at 32.5%. But that sector didn’t see as much growth in employment. About 7 million public-sector workers were union members in 2023, which was unchanged from the year before.
“Union organizing gains continue to be offset by job growth in nonunion jobs and job loss in heavily unionized sectors,” said
Bronfenbrenner said the data also doesn't take into account the surge in unionization at companies like
Men had a higher union membership rate last year, at 10.5%. The rate for women was 9.5%. And Black workers have a higher union membership rate, at 11.8%, than white workers, at 9.8%.
The
But unionizing a workplace in the
Fights over unionization can also drag on for years in courts.
Union power has also been diluted by “right-to-work” laws in 26 states, which prevent unions from compelling workers to be members as a requirement for their job.
As a result, union membership rates have been on a decades-long decline. In 1983, the first year for which comparable data are available, the
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