Record low union membership in 2023 despite eventful year
The Decline of Union Membership in the United States
The share of workers in the United States who are union members dropped to a record low of 10% in 2023, despite the significant attention given to organized labor.
This decline was a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate of 10.1%. According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of union members among wage and salary workers in 2023 was 14.4 million.
This decline is even more significant when compared to the past. In 1983, when data for this statistic first became available, the union membership rate was over 20% of workers in the U.S.
Interestingly, the membership rate among public-sector employees was five times higher (32.5%) than that among private-sector workers (6%).
Despite the attention given to unions in recent years, this new record low may come as a surprise. The United Auto Workers, for example, achieved major concessions from automakers after highly publicized work stoppages, and the Teamsters pushed negotiations with UPS to the brink of a strike.
However, Dan Bowling, a labor law professor, noted that the decline in union membership is not shocking given long-term trends. He also pointed out that the shift away from mass-production jobs and the migration of people from union states to “right-to-work” states have contributed to this decline.
It is important to note that the recent buzz surrounding unions does not necessarily indicate a resurgence of new union activity. Instead, it may be the result of existing union contracts coming to an end around the same time.
Despite President Joe Biden’s pro-union stance and efforts to strengthen organized labor, union membership continues to decline.
Source: The Washington Examiner
How does physical activity contribute to mental wellbeing?
About the benefits of regular exercise.
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