Media-fueled imagery of assembly-line workers and guys in hard hats, alongside breathless national stories about local organizing drives, contribute to a perception of U.S. labor unions that is not in line with reality. The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual union membership <a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/union2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> on Tuesday, so it’s a good time to refresh our knowledge of the facts about organized labor in the United States.

These facts are separate from any political concerns about how unions use their influence to push progressive views and elect Democrats (which they do). Here’s where unions are today:

National stories about local organizing drives often contribute to a misperception of U.S. labor unions.{ai:summary}<p>Union membership in the U.S. has declined to 9.9% in 2024, the lowest since 1983. The private sector rate is 5.9%, while public sector membership stands at 32.2%. Notably, half of union members work in public sectors, with significant representation in education.</p><p>Most workers in traditionally blue-collar jobs remain non-unionized, with over 90% in mining, manufacturing, and construction not belonging to unions. California and New York account for nearly 30% of union members, despite having only 17% of the workforce. #society</p>

The Corner: The Facts About U.S. Union Membership

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