In 2015 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found union membership rate was 11.1%, unchanged from 2014. In 1983, union membership was 20.1%.
Union Membership Information
- Union membership for public sector workers (35.2 %) was more than five times that of private sector workers (6.7%).
- Workers in education, training, and library occupations had the highest unionization rate at 37.1%.
- Black workers were more likely to be union members than white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.
- New York had the highest union membership rate (24.2%) of all 50 states and North Carolina had the lowest rate (3.2%).
What’s Next for the Labor Movement?
Are you currently employed but thinking of making a career change? Are you out of job and considering re-training? Is someone in your family in or about to enter college?
Work has changed drastically over the years, and the Labor Movement continues to find innovative ways to give a voice to working people. Working America, the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate, is open to everyone, and has more than 3 million members.
The Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United is an example of a group that is not a traditional union, but is organizing around raising the minimum wage for tipped workers and gaining paid sick leave for people employed in the food service industry.
Even new industries are realizing that every workplace can benefit from a union, such as the unionization of Gawker, Huffington Post
- Read more about the future of Labor from the AFL-CIO.
Why You Need a Union
Union members earn more money, have better benefits, and help employers create a more stable, productive workforce in which workers have a say in improving their jobs. Read more about the union difference on the AFL-CIO site.
Why Your Union Membership is Valuable
- Union workers' wages are 24% higher on average than their nonunion counterparts.
- 76% of union workers have guaranteed pensions, but only 16% of nonunion workers do.
- 83% of union workers have paid sick leave, while only 62% of nonunion workers do.
Like other workers in the past, professionals are now forming unions to enhance professional autonomy and become more involved in making decisions that affect their careers, as well as for greater professional and personal security. As you plan your future, consider where your best career opportunities are and how union membership can help.