Technical information: (202) 691-6378 USDL 09-0095
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
For release: 10:00 A.M. (EST)
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 Wednesday, January 28, 2009
UNION MEMBERS IN 2008
In 2008, union members accounted for 12.4 percent of employed wage
and salary workers, up from 12.1 percent a year earlier, the U.S.
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The
number of workers belonging to a union rose by 428,000 to 16.1 million.
In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available,
the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million
union workers.
The data on union membership were collected as part of the Current
Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000
households that obtains information on employment and unemployment
among the nation's civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and
over.
Some highlights from the 2008 data are:
--Government workers were nearly five times more likely to belong
to a union than were private sector employees.
--Workers in education, training, and library occupations had the
highest unionization rate at 38.7 percent.
--Black workers were more likely to be union members than were
white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.
--Among states, New York had the highest union membership rate
(24.9 percent) and North Carolina had the lowest rate (3.5 percent).
Membership by Industry and Occupation
The union membership rate for public sector workers (36.8 percent)
was substantially higher than the rate for private industry workers
(7.6 percent). Within the public sector, local government workers had
the highest union membership rate, 42.2 percent. This group includes
many workers in several heavily unionized occupations, such as teachers,
police officers, and fire fighters. Private sector industries with
high unionization rates include transportation and utilities (22.2 per-
cent), telecommunications (19.3 percent), and construction (15.6 per-
cent). In 2008, unionization rates were relatively low in financial
activities (1.8 percent) and professional and business services (2.1
percent). (See table 3.)
Among occupational groups, education, training, and library occupa-
tions (38.7 percent) and protective service occupations (35.4 percent)
had the highest unionization rates in 2008. Sales and related occu-
pations (3.3 percent) and farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
(4.3 percent) had the lowest unionization rates. (See table 3.)
- 2 -
Demographic Characteristics of Union Members
The union membership rate was higher for men (13.4 percent) than
for women (11.4 percent) in 2008. (See table 1.) The gap between
their rates has narrowed considerably since 1983, when the rate for
men was about 10 percentage points higher than the rate for women.
Between 1983 and 2008, the union membership rate for men declined
by 11.3 percentage points, while the rate for women declined by 3.2
percentage points.
In 2008, black workers were more likely to be union members (14.5
percent) than workers who were white (12.2 percent), Asian (10.6
percent), or Hispanic (10.6 percent). Black men had the highest
union membership rate (15.9 percent), while Asian men had the lowest
rate (9.6 percent).
By age, union membership rates were highest among workers 55 to 64
years old (16.6 percent) and 45 to 54 years old (16.0 percent). The
lowest union membership rates occurred among those ages 16 to 24 (5.0
percent). Full-time workers were about twice as likely as part-time
workers to be union members, 13.7 compared with 6.7 percent. (See
table 1.)
Union Representation of Nonmembers
About 1.7 million wage and salary workers were represented by a
union on their main job in 2008, while not being union members them-
selves. (See table 1.) About half of these workers were employed
in government. (See table 3.)
Earnings
In 2008, among full-time wage and salary workers, union members had
median usual weekly earnings of $886 while those who were not repre-
sented by unions had median weekly earnings of $691. (See table 2.)
The difference reflects a variety of influences in addition to cover-
age by a collective bargaining agreement, including variations in
the distributions of union members and nonunion employees by occupa-
tion, industry, firm size, or geographic region. (For a discussion
of the problem of differentiating between the influence of unioniza-
tion status and the influence of other worker characteristics on em-
ployee earnings, see "Measuring union-nonunion earnings differences,
" Monthly Labor Review, June 1990.)
Union Membership by State
In 2008, 29 states and the District of Columbia had union member-
ship rates below that of the U.S. average, 12.4 percent, while 20
states had higher rates, and 1 state had the same rate. All states
in the East North Central, Middle Atlantic, and Pacific divisions
reported union membership rates at or above the national average, and
all states in the East South Central and West South Central divisions
had rates below it. Union membership rates rose over the year in 26
states and the District of Columbia, declined in 20 states, and were
unchanged in 4 states. (See table 5.)
Six states had union membership rates below 5.0 percent in 2008,
with North Carolina having the lowest rate (3.5 percent). The next
lowest rates were recorded in Georgia (3.7 percent), South Carolina
(3.9 percent), Virginia (4.1 percent), Texas (4.5 percent), and Lou-
isiana (4.6 percent). Three states had union membership rates over
20.0 percent in 2008--New York (24.9 percent), Hawaii (24.3 percent),
and Alaska (23.5 percent).
- 3 -
The largest numbers of union members lived in California (2.7 mil-
lion) and New York (2.0 million). About half (8.0 million) of the
16.1 million union members in the U.S. lived in just 6 states (Cali-
fornia, 2.7 million; New York, 2.0 million; Illinois, 0.9 million;
Pennsylvania, 0.8 million; Michigan, 0.8 million; and Ohio, 0.7 mil-
lion), though these states accounted for only one-third of wage and
salary employment nationally.
State union membership levels depend on both the employment level
and union membership rate. Texas, with 449,000 union members in 2008,
had less than one-quarter as many union members as New York, despite
having over 1.8 million more wage and salary employees. Similarly,
North Carolina and Hawaii had a comparable number of union members
(132,000 and 136,000, respectively), though North Carolina's wage and
salary employment level, at 3.8 million, was almost seven times that
of Hawaii at 562,000.
- 4 -
Technical Note
The estimates in this release are obtained from the Current Population
Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor force,
employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the
Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau from a scientifically
selected national sample of about 60,000 households. The union membership
and earnings data are tabulated from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample
and are limited to wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers
are excluded.
Union membership data for 2008 are not strictly comparable with data for
2007 and earlier years because of the introduction of updated population con-
trols with the release of January data. The effect of the revised population
controls on the union membership estimates is unknown. However, the effect of
the new controls on the monthly CPS estimates was to decrease the December 2007
employment level by 598,000 and the unemployment level by 40,000. The updated
controls had little or no effect on unemployment rates and other ratios. For
additional information, see "Adjustments to Household Survey Population Esti-
mates in January 2008" available on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/cps/
cps08adj.pdf.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired indi-
viduals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; TDD message referral phone
number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling error.
When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is a chance
that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population values they repre-
sent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies depending upon the particular
sample selected, and this variability is measured by the standard error of the esti-
mate. There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of confidence, that an esti-
mate based on a sample will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the
"true" population value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally
conducted at the 90-percent level of confidence. The state section of this release
preserves the long-time practice of highlighting the direction of the movements in
state union membership rates and levels regardless of their statistical significance.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur
for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of the population, in-
ability to obtain information for all respondents in the sample, inability or unwill-
ingness of respondents to provide correct information, and errors made in the collec-
tion or processing of the data.
- 5 -
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and information on
estimating standard errors, see the Household Data section of the "Explanatory Notes
and Estimates of Error" at http://www.bls.gov/cps/eetech_methods.pdf.
Definitions
The principal definitions used in this release are described briefly below.
Union members. Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association
similar to a union.
Represented by unions. Data refer to union members, as well as workers who have
no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association
contract.
Nonunion. Data refer to workers who are neither members of a union nor represented
by a union on their job.
Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other deductions
and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually received (at the main job
in the case of multiple jobholders). Prior to 1994, respondents were asked how much
they usually earned per week. Since January 1994, respondents have been asked to iden-
tify the easiest way for them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice month-
ly, monthly, annually, other) and how much they usually earn in the reported time period.
Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a weekly equivalent.
The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent. If the respondent asks for a defini-
tion of usual, interviewers are instructed to define the term as more than half of the
weeks worked during the past 4 or 5 months.
Median earnings. The median is the amount which divides a given earnings distri-
bution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median and the other
having earnings below the median. The estimating procedure places each reported or
calculated weekly earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around
multiples of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the median lies.
Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries, commissions, tips,
payment in kind, or piece rates. The group includes employees in both the private
and public sectors, but, for the purposes of the union membership and earnings series,
excludes all self-employed persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses are
incorporated.
Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week at their
sole or principal job.
Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per week at their
sole or principal job.
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Refers to persons who identified themselves in the
enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino. Persons whose ethnicity is
identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Table 1. Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by selected characteristics
(Numbers in thousands)
2007 2008
Members Represented Members Represented
of by unions (2) of by unions (2)
Characteristic unions (1) unions (1)
Total Total
employed employed
Percent Percent Percent Percent
Total of Total of Total of Total of
em- em- em- em-
ployed ployed ployed ployed
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over.......................... 129,767 15,670 12.1 17,243 13.3 129,377 16,098 12.4 17,761 13.7
16 to 24 years.................................. 19,395 939 4.8 1,068 5.5 18,705 930 5.0 1,062 5.7
25 years and over............................... 110,372 14,731 13.3 16,176 14.7 110,672 15,168 13.7 16,699 15.1
25 to 34 years................................. 29,409 3,050 10.4 3,358 11.4 29,276 3,120 10.7 3,443 11.8
35 to 44 years................................. 30,296 3,972 13.1 4,362 14.4 29,708 3,993 13.4 4,365 14.7
45 to 54 years................................. 29,731 4,664 15.7 5,087 17.1 29,787 4,767 16.0 5,228 17.6
55 to 64 years................................. 16,752 2,691 16.1 2,967 17.7 17,430 2,887 16.6 3,209 18.4
65 years and over.............................. 4,183 355 8.5 402 9.6 4,471 401 9.0 454 10.2
Men, 16 years and over.......................... 67,468 8,767 13.0 9,494 14.1 66,846 8,938 13.4 9,724 14.5
16 to 24 years.................................. 9,959 551 5.5 627 6.3 9,537 555 5.8 617 6.5
25 years and over............................... 57,509 8,217 14.3 8,867 15.4 57,309 8,383 14.6 9,107 15.9
25 to 34 years................................. 15,994 1,736 10.9 1,884 11.8 15,780 1,750 11.1 1,909 12.1
35 to 44 years................................. 16,070 2,318 14.4 2,501 15.6 15,653 2,307 14.7 2,491 15.9
45 to 54 years................................. 15,040 2,578 17.1 2,745 18.3 14,988 2,608 17.4 2,812 18.8
55 to 64 years................................. 8,286 1,403 16.9 1,532 18.5 8,657 1,525 17.6 1,682 19.4
65 years and over.............................. 2,119 181 8.5 205 9.7 2,230 193 8.7 213 9.6
Women, 16 years and over........................ 62,299 6,903 11.1 7,749 12.4 62,532 7,160 11.4 8,036 12.9
16 to 24 years.................................. 9,436 388 4.1 441 4.7 9,168 374 4.1 445 4.8
25 years and over............................... 52,863 6,514 12.3 7,308 13.8 53,364 6,785 12.7 7,592 14.2
25 to 34 years................................. 13,416 1,313 9.8 1,474 11.0 13,496 1,370 10.1 1,534 11.4
35 to 44 years................................. 14,226 1,653 11.6 1,861 13.1 14,055 1,685 12.0 1,874 13.3
45 to 54 years................................. 14,691 2,086 14.2 2,341 15.9 14,799 2,159 14.6 2,416 16.3
55 to 64 years................................. 8,466 1,288 15.2 1,435 17.0 8,773 1,363 15.5 1,527 17.4
65 years and over.............................. 2,065 174 8.4 197 9.5 2,241 208 9.3 241 10.7
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY, AND SEX
White, 16 years and over........................ 105,515 12,487 11.8 13,715 13.0 105,052 12,863 12.2 14,222 13.5
Men............................................ 55,771 7,134 12.8 7,708 13.8 55,197 7,309 13.2 7,961 14.4
Women.......................................... 49,743 5,352 10.8 6,007 12.1 49,855 5,555 11.1 6,261 12.6
Black or African American, 16 years and over.... 15,177 2,165 14.3 2,403 15.8 15,030 2,178 14.5 2,370 15.8
Men............................................ 6,945 1,097 15.8 1,205 17.3 6,809 1,081 15.9 1,159 17.0
Women.......................................... 8,232 1,067 13.0 1,198 14.6 8,221 1,097 13.3 1,211 14.7
Asian, 16 years and over........................ 6,016 654 10.9 720 12.0 6,157 653 10.6 714 11.6
Men............................................ 3,168 324 10.2 348 11.0 3,216 310 9.6 339 10.6
Women.......................................... 2,849 330 11.6 372 13.1 2,941 344 11.7 374 12.7
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and over 18,778 1,837 9.8 2,026 10.8 18,572 1,960 10.6 2,168 11.7
Men............................................ 11,163 1,108 9.9 1,208 10.8 10,998 1,204 11.0 1,317 12.0
Women.......................................... 7,615 728 9.6 818 10.7 7,574 756 10.0 852 11.2
FULL- OR PART-TIME STATUS (3)
Full-time workers............................... 107,339 14,201 13.2 15,570 14.5 106,648 14,561 13.7 16,029 15.0
Part-time workers............................... 22,172 1,437 6.5 1,635 7.4 22,497 1,505 6.7 1,697 7.5
1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union
affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals because
full- or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple jobholders.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Data refer to the sole or
principal job of full- and part-time wage and salary workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their
businesses are incorporated. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 2. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation and selected characteristics
2007 2008
Characteristic Members of Repre- Members of Repre-
Total unions (1) sented Non- Total unions (1) sented Non-
by union (3) by union (3)
unions (2) unions (2)
AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over...................... $695 $863 $857 $663 $722 $886 $880 $691
16 to 24 years.............................. 424 566 551 418 443 560 549 434
25 years and over........................... 738 880 876 712 761 903 898 736
25 to 34 years............................. 643 789 781 622 666 801 793 645
35 to 44 years............................. 769 910 907 745 804 933 926 775
45 to 54 years............................. 790 900 899 763 822 944 941 785
55 to 64 years............................. 803 925 921 766 825 927 922 790
65 years and over.......................... 605 634 682 597 644 771 773 627
Men, 16 years and over...................... 766 913 910 738 798 939 937 766
16 to 24 years.............................. 443 567 557 432 461 571 565 451
25 years and over........................... 823 930 928 796 857 957 956 828
25 to 34 years............................. 687 823 819 664 704 845 839 682
35 to 44 years............................. 873 971 969 847 915 994 991 896
45 to 54 years............................. 909 958 961 892 944 1,003 1,005 922
55 to 64 years............................. 933 954 952 926 943 967 965 935
65 years and over.......................... 686 732 776 672 753 864 886 736
Women, 16 years and over.................... 614 790 784 592 638 809 800 615
16 to 24 years.............................. 409 564 540 403 420 546 530 416
25 years and over........................... 646 805 800 620 670 825 818 645
25 to 34 years............................. 597 753 745 580 623 748 740 609
35 to 44 years............................. 668 826 820 640 682 842 838 657
45 to 54 years............................. 677 813 810 650 707 853 847 674
55 to 64 years............................. 679 886 881 641 711 875 866 675
65 years and over.......................... 534 582 608 520 563 693 672 542
RACE, HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY,
AND SEX
White, 16 years and over.................... 716 889 884 684 742 914 907 712
Men........................................ 788 937 934 757 825 967 965 789
Women...................................... 626 814 807 603 654 837 828 627
Black or African American, 16 years and over 569 732 727 533 589 720 712 564
Men........................................ 600 768 763 573 620 756 751 598
Women...................................... 533 697 691 513 554 674 668 523
Asian, 16 years and over.................... 830 853 881 823 861 902 908 852
Men........................................ 936 867 898 940 966 927 939 973
Women...................................... 731 842 871 712 753 880 880 737
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, 16 years and
over....................................... 503 736 729 487 529 733 724 512
Men........................................ 520 793 782 505 559 778 765 526
Women...................................... 473 675 672 446 501 654 656 487
1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union
affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Data refer to workers who are neither members of a union nor represented by a union on their job.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not
presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Data refer to the sole or
principal job of full- and part-time wage and salary workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their
businesses are incorporated. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data.
Table 3. Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by occupation and industry
(Numbers in thousands)
2007 2008
Members Represented Members Represented
of by unions (2) of by unions (2)
Occupation and industry unions (1) unions (1)
Total Total
employed employed
Percent Percent Percent Percent
Total of Total of Total of Total of
em- em- em- em-
ployed ployed ployed ployed
OCCUPATION
Management, professional, and related occupations 44,547 5,853 13.1 6,656 14.9 45,538 6,110 13.4 6,948 15.3
Management, business, and financial operations
occupations.................................... 17,003 849 5.0 1,020 6.0 17,326 866 5.0 1,039 6.0
Management occupations.................... 11,656 530 4.5 633 5.4 11,843 564 4.8 679 5.7
Business and financial operations
occupations.............................. 5,348 319 6.0 386 7.2 5,483 302 5.5 360 6.6
Professional and related occupations.......... 27,543 5,004 18.2 5,636 20.5 28,212 5,244 18.6 5,909 20.9
Computer and mathematical occupations..... 3,252 157 4.8 188 5.8 3,488 170 4.9 210 6.0
Architecture and engineering occupations.. 2,744 215 7.8 240 8.7 2,746 203 7.4 233 8.5
Life, physical, and social science
occupations.............................. 1,270 113 8.9 138 10.9 1,209 106 8.8 132 10.9
Community and social services occupations 2,187 326 14.9 375 17.1 2,222 363 16.3 406 18.3
Legal occupations......................... 1,288 71 5.5 83 6.4 1,318 74 5.6 87 6.6
Education, training, and library
occupations.............................. 8,288 3,087 37.2 3,439 41.5 8,424 3,259 38.7 3,630 43.1
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and
media occupations........................ 1,955 152 7.8 182 9.3 1,994 141 7.1 167 8.4
Healthcare practitioner and technical
occupations.............................. 6,558 883 13.5 992 15.1 6,813 928 13.6 1,045 15.3
Service occupations............................... 21,784 2,481 11.4 2,692 12.4 22,114 2,624 11.9 2,831 12.8
Healthcare support occupations................ 2,987 304 10.2 332 11.1 3,028 296 9.8 317 10.5
Protective service occupations................ 3,025 1,066 35.2 1,127 37.2 3,023 1,069 35.4 1,122 37.1
Food preparation and serving related
occupations.................................. 7,500 325 4.3 371 4.9 7,694 401 5.2 444 5.8
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance
occupations.................................. 4,642 497 10.7 549 11.8 4,648 534 11.5 592 12.7
Personal care and service occupations......... 3,631 289 8.0 314 8.6 3,721 324 8.7 357 9.6
Sales and office occupations...................... 32,978 2,386 7.2 2,659 8.1 32,479 2,395 7.4 2,710 8.3
Sales and related occupations................. 14,079 462 3.3 521 3.7 13,708 447 3.3 531 3.9
Office and administrative support occupations 18,900 1,925 10.2 2,138 11.3 18,770 1,949 10.4 2,179 11.6
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations........ ............................ 13,325 2,252 16.9 2,363 17.7 12,444 2,208 17.7 2,303 18.5
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.... 876 23 2.7 28 3.2 901 39 4.3 46 5.1
Construction and extraction occupations....... 7,708 1,434 18.6 1,480 19.2 6,876 1,391 20.2 1,445 21.0
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations.................................. 4,742 794 16.8 855 18.0 4,668 778 16.7 812 17.4
Production, transportation, and material moving
occupations.. .................................. 17,133 2,699 15.8 2,874 16.8 16,802 2,760 16.4 2,968 17.7
Production occupations........................ 8,903 1,243 14.0 1,314 14.8 8,601 1,269 14.8 1,370 15.9
Transportation and material moving occupations 8,231 1,456 17.7 1,560 19.0 8,202 1,491 18.2 1,599 19.5
INDUSTRY
Private sector.................................... 108,714 8,114 7.5 8,870 8.2 108,073 8,265 7.6 9,084 8.4
Agriculture and related industries.............. 1,046 16 1.5 19 1.8 1,057 30 2.8 35 3.4
Nonagriculture and related industries........... 107,668 8,098 7.5 8,851 8.2 107,016 8,236 7.7 9,049 8.5
Mining....................................... 705 66 9.3 72 10.2 776 54 6.9 61 7.9
Construction................................. 8,561 1,193 13.9 1,232 14.4 7,652 1,195 15.6 1,241 16.2
Manufacturing................................ 15,341 1,734 11.3 1,845 12.0 15,131 1,723 11.4 1,862 12.3
Durable goods manufacturing.............. 9,770 1,107 11.3 1,172 12.0 9,728 1,139 11.7 1,223 12.6
Nondurable goods manufacturing........... 5,571 628 11.3 673 12.1 5,403 584 10.8 639 11.8
Wholesale and retail trade................... 18,896 990 5.2 1,075 5.7 18,622 976 5.2 1,096 5.9
Wholesale trade.......................... 3,951 205 5.2 224 5.7 3,635 194 5.3 214 5.9
Retail trade............................. 14,945 785 5.3 851 5.7 14,987 782 5.2 881 5.9
Transportation and utilities................. 5,488 1,211 22.1 1,282 23.4 5,544 1,231 22.2 1,298 23.4
Transportation and warehousing........... 4,654 974 20.9 1,037 22.3 4,639 988 21.3 1,041 22.4
Utilities................................ 834 237 28.4 245 29.4 906 243 26.9 257 28.3
Information (3).............................. 3,211 389 12.1 420 13.1 3,056 388 12.7 420 13.7
Publishing, except Internet.............. 850 62 7.3 65 7.7 717 52 7.2 62 8.7
Motion pictures and sound recording...... 309 35 11.5 39 12.5 337 38 11.4 39 11.7
Broadcasting, except Internet............ 588 51 8.7 62 10.6 561 53 9.5 59 10.6
Telecommunications....................... 1,186 233 19.7 246 20.8 1,184 228 19.3 242 20.4
Financial activities......................... 8,858 174 2.0 215 2.4 8,654 157 1.8 199 2.3
Finance and insurance.................... 6,531 99 1.5 129 2.0 6,536 86 1.3 115 1.8
Finance............................. 4,313 55 1.3 76 1.8 4,312 45 1.0 62 1.4
Insurance........................... 2,218 45 2.0 53 2.4 2,224 41 1.9 53 2.4
Real estate and rental and leasing....... 2,327 74 3.2 86 3.7 2,118 71 3.3 84 4.0
Professional and business services........... 12,022 290 2.4 360 3.0 11,967 253 2.1 324 2.7
Professional and technical services...... 6,962 98 1.4 147 2.1 7,234 93 1.3 128 1.8
Management, administrative, and waste
services................................ 5,060 191 3.8 213 4.2 4,733 159 3.4 196 4.1
Education and health services................ 18,120 1,591 8.8 1,815 10.0 18,841 1,723 9.1 1,940 10.3
Educational services..................... 3,513 444 12.6 529 15.1 3,657 504 13.8 584 16.0
Health care and social assistance........ 14,607 1,147 7.9 1,286 8.8 15,184 1,219 8.0 1,356 8.9
Leisure and hospitality...................... 10,956 302 2.8 354 3.2 11,187 361 3.2 408 3.6
Arts, entertainment, and recreation...... 1,966 122 6.2 138 7.0 2,044 131 6.4 150 7.3
Accommodation and food services.......... 8,990 180 2.0 217 2.4 9,144 231 2.5 258 2.8
Accommodation........................ 1,414 109 7.7 123 8.7 1,447 115 7.9 120 8.3
Food services and drinking places.... 7,575 70 .9 94 1.2 7,696 116 1.5 138 1.8
Other services (3)........................... 5,510 159 2.9 181 3.3 5,585 175 3.1 200 3.6
Other services, except private households 4,727 150 3.2 172 3.6 4,785 164 3.4 185 3.9
Public sector................................... 21,053 7,557 35.9 8,373 39.8 21,305 7,832 36.8 8,676 40.7
Federal....................................... 3,423 916 26.8 1,079 31.5 3,542 994 28.1 1,167 33.0
State......................................... 6,384 1,943 30.4 2,168 34.0 6,176 1,955 31.6 2,167 35.1
Local......................................... 11,246 4,698 41.8 5,126 45.6 11,586 4,884 42.2 5,342 46.1
1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union
affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
NOTE: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Table 4. Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation, and industry
2007 2008
Occupation and industry Members of Repre- Members of Repre-
Total unions (1) sented Non- Total unions (1) sented Non-
by union (3) by union (3)
unions (2) unions (2)
OCCUPATION
Management, professional, and related
occupations..... ............................. $996 $996 $992 $996 $1,025 $1,028 $1,017 $1,028
Management, business, and financial
operations occupations..........................1,080 1,066 1,072 1,081 1,128 1,113 1,120 1,129
Management occupations.................. 1,161 1,172 1,165 1,160 1,204 1,235 1,236 1,199
Business and financial operations
occupations............................ 941 934 950 940 974 925 943 978
Professional and related occupations........ 951 987 980 942 980 1,018 1,004 973
Computer and mathematical occupations... 1,229 1,188 1,204 1,231 1,242 1,149 1,139 1,248
Architecture and engineering occupations 1,213 1,179 1,178 1,221 1,244 1,223 1,243 1,244
Life, physical, and social science
occupations............................ 1,053 1,147 1,144 1,036 1,035 1,169 1,144 1,018
Community and social services
occupations............................ 755 920 909 732 788 983 978 743
Legal occupations....................... 1,148 1,180 1,151 1,148 1,174 1,186 1,265 1,169
Education, training, and library
occupations............................ 841 959 947 742 866 974 957 765
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and
media occupations.............................829 1,000 1,009 807 882 1,110 1,098 858
Healthcare practitioner and technical
occupations............................ 920 1,005 1,019 906 962 1,070 1,061 943
Service occupations............................. 454 666 654 421 475 691 679 440
Healthcare support occupations.............. 454 502 502 446 465 526 526 457
Protective service occupations.............. 719 954 946 610 748 990 983 620
Food preparation and serving related
occupations................................ 385 502 495 379 402 502 496 398
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations...........................422 551 543 407 431 596 593 412
Personal care and service occupations....... 434 585 585 420 475 580 570 463
Sales and office occupations.................... 598 717 715 587 614 741 736 603
Sales and related occupations............... 643 648 648 643 656 679 683 655
Office and administrative support
occupations.................................. 581 726 724 560 601 749 744 585
Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
occupations.... .............................. 670 973 961 617 702 990 984 647
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations.. 372 (4) (4) 369 420 (4) (4) 418
Construction and extraction occupations..... 646 976 968 597 688 992 989 621
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations................................ 749 975 962 709 774 1,002 994 729
Production, transportation, and material moving
occupations... ............................... 577 759 753 540 594 777 770 560
Production occupations...................... 581 761 755 552 595 765 759 567
Transportation and material moving
occupations................................ 570 757 750 523 593 789 779 550
INDUSTRY
Private sector.................................. 666 818 813 651 694 838 829 680
Agriculture and related industries............ 412 (4) (4) 411 444 (4) (4) 446
Nonagriculture and related industries......... 670 819 814 654 698 840 831 683
Mining..................................... 969 960 950 975 1,007 1,024 1,032 1,003
Construction............................... 673 1,000 993 624 712 1,014 1,012 668
Manufacturing.............................. 719 783 779 708 741 796 795 733
Durable goods manufacturing............ 744 818 815 732 772 829 827 763
Nondurable goods manufacturing......... 669 714 712 659 685 729 729 675
Wholesale and retail trade................. 587 639 632 584 603 643 638 601
Wholesale trade........................ 720 756 753 717 741 775 763 739
Retail trade........................... 538 608 601 532 564 598 596 561
Transportation and utilities............... 738 902 894 695 787 958 950 747
Transportation and warehousing......... 696 846 835 657 744 897 895 710
Utilities.............................. 994 1,056 1,052 954 1,061 1,161 1,142 1,010
Information (5)............................ 891 1,000 994 867 898 1,011 1,001 871
Publishing, except Internet............ 881 931 933 877 856 (4) 979 846
Motion pictures and sound recording.... 889 (4) (4) 797 883 (4) (4) 800
Broadcasting, except Internet.......... 786 (4) (4) 770 806 (4) 944 794
Telecommunications..................... 951 1,003 1,000 927 969 1,006 1,000 953
Financial activities....................... 782 728 738 784 814 782 782 816
Finance and insurance.................. 820 722 746 822 857 762 774 859
Finance........................... 835 717 773 836 864 (4) 829 865
Insurance......................... 795 (4) 735 799 846 (4) (4) 849
Real estate and rental and leasing..... 691 739 718 690 703 789 783 696
Professional and business services......... 783 800 822 782 835 814 817 836
Professional and technical services.... 1,031 991 1,041 1,031 1,065 1,129 1,140 1,064
Management, administrative, and waste
services.............................. 524 733 686 519 544 682 695 538
Education and health services.............. 671 779 781 657 685 795 798 671
Educational services................... 766 824 812 754 773 892 868 762
Health care and social assistance...... 644 752 762 632 661 756 768 652
Leisure and hospitality.................... 440 580 572 431 470 584 575 462
Arts, entertainment, and recreation.... 587 633 634 581 590 651 638 586
Accommodation and food services........ 413 534 528 410 435 563 552 427
Accommodation...................... 492 554 546 481 508 605 602 494
Food services and drinking places.. 399 476 490 398 417 497 491 416
Other services (5)......................... 581 803 789 574 610 878 810 606
Other services, except private
households............................ 600 822 806 593 629 893 849 622
Public sector................................. 816 901 896 749 842 923 918 766
Federal..................................... 965 927 933 996 972 949 959 989
State....................................... 772 865 856 731 812 900 889 753
Local....................................... 787 907 899 688 814 925 917 719
1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union
affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Data refer to workers who are neither members of a union nor represented by a union on their job.
4 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
5 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
NOTE: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of
whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Table 5. Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by state
(Numbers in thousands)
2007 2008
Members of Represented Members of Represented
unions (1) by unions (2) unions (1) by unions (2)
State
Total Total
employed Percent Percent employed Percent Percent
Total of Total of Total of Total of
em- em- em- em-
ployed ployed ployed ployed
Alabama......................................... 1,895 180 9.5 201 10.6 1,858 181 9.8 199 10.7
Alaska.......................................... 284 68 23.8 70 24.7 289 68 23.5 71 24.7
Arizona......................................... 2,619 230 8.8 255 9.7 2,579 227 8.8 254 9.8
Arkansas........................................ 1,154 62 5.4 75 6.5 1,158 68 5.9 85 7.3
California...................................... 14,856 2,474 16.7 2,650 17.8 14,889 2,740 18.4 2,909 19.5
Colorado........................................ 2,204 191 8.7 202 9.2 2,254 181 8.0 208 9.2
Connecticut..................................... 1,617 253 15.6 269 16.6 1,625 275 16.9 291 17.9
Delaware........................................ 396 47 12.0 50 12.8 391 52 13.4 57 14.7
District of Columbia............................ 278 29 10.3 38 13.6 288 35 12.2 41 14.3
Florida......................................... 7,741 455 5.9 562 7.3 7,573 482 6.4 601 7.9
Georgia......................................... 4,181 186 4.4 226 5.4 4,084 151 3.7 189 4.6
Hawaii.......................................... 556 130 23.4 135 24.2 562 136 24.3 143 25.5
Idaho........................................... 635 33 5.3 41 6.4 602 42 7.1 48 8.0
Illinois........................................ 5,802 842 14.5 884 15.2 5,662 939 16.6 993 17.5
Indiana......................................... 2,779 333 12.0 359 12.9 2,811 349 12.4 386 13.7
Iowa............................................ 1,417 149 10.5 185 13.1 1,437 153 10.6 187 13.0
Kansas.......................................... 1,274 89 7.0 110 8.7 1,273 89 7.0 111 8.7
Kentucky........................................ 1,734 157 9.1 192 11.1 1,703 146 8.6 163 9.6
Louisiana....................................... 1,670 94 5.6 108 6.5 1,724 80 4.6 97 5.6
Maine........................................... 574 67 11.7 79 13.8 574 71 12.3 84 14.7
Maryland........................................ 2,598 335 12.9 376 14.5 2,610 329 12.6 380 14.5
Massachusetts................................... 2,882 379 13.2 402 14.0 2,909 458 15.7 491 16.9
Michigan........................................ 4,193 819 19.5 865 20.6 4,089 771 18.8 801 19.6
Minnesota....................................... 2,460 400 16.3 419 17.0 2,430 392 16.1 412 17.0
Mississippi..................................... 1,068 72 6.7 95 8.9 1,089 57 5.3 79 7.3
Missouri........................................ 2,585 275 10.7 308 11.9 2,543 285 11.2 327 12.8
Montana......................................... 399 54 13.5 62 15.6 389 47 12.2 61 15.7
Nebraska........................................ 836 65 7.8 81 9.7 840 70 8.3 90 10.7
Nevada.......................................... 1,177 182 15.4 208 17.7 1,192 199 16.7 217 18.2
New Hampshire................................... 631 61 9.7 70 11.2 635 67 10.6 79 12.4
New Jersey...................................... 3,897 748 19.2 802 20.6 3,843 703 18.3 731 19.0
New Mexico...................................... 800 62 7.7 91 11.4 807 58 7.2 94 11.6
New York........................................ 8,150 2,055 25.2 2,146 26.3 8,165 2,029 24.9 2,170 26.6
North Carolina.................................. 3,771 114 3.0 147 3.9 3,799 132 3.5 189 5.0
North Dakota.................................... 303 19 6.4 23 7.6 308 19 6.1 25 8.2
Ohio............................................ 5,187 730 14.1 797 15.4 5,046 716 14.2 783 15.5
Oklahoma........................................ 1,456 103 7.1 124 8.5 1,529 102 6.6 127 8.3
Oregon.......................................... 1,582 227 14.3 243 15.4 1,566 259 16.6 272 17.4
Pennsylvania.................................... 5,496 830 15.1 910 16.6 5,504 847 15.4 899 16.3
Rhode Island.................................... 497 75 15.0 78 15.8 471 78 16.5 82 17.4
South Carolina.................................. 1,873 78 4.1 111 5.9 1,792 70 3.9 105 5.8
South Dakota.................................... 354 23 6.5 27 7.7 369 18 5.0 24 6.4
Tennessee....................................... 2,596 138 5.3 166 6.4 2,534 139 5.5 166 6.6
Texas........................................... 9,899 463 4.7 566 5.7 9,991 449 4.5 559 5.6
Utah............................................ 1,153 67 5.8 78 6.8 1,178 68 5.8 84 7.1
Vermont......................................... 288 30 10.4 35 12.2 284 29 10.4 36 12.8
Virginia........................................ 3,502 129 3.7 167 4.8 3,597 146 4.1 178 5.0
Washington...................................... 2,874 579 20.2 616 21.4 2,912 578 19.8 626 21.5
West Virginia................................... 724 97 13.3 107 14.7 736 101 13.8 112 15.3
Wisconsin....................................... 2,631 376 14.3 405 15.4 2,642 396 15.0 422 16.0
Wyoming......................................... 239 19 7.9 22 9.4 241 19 7.7 21 8.9
1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no union
affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
NOTE: Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless
of whether or not their businesses are incorporated. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January
data.
United States Department of Labor
