U.S. labor union membership grows amid high public approval

Labor union membership in the United States is experiencing significant growth, with over 411,000 members added last year—the largest annual increase since 2008. According to a study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, approximately 14.6 million workers, or 10% of the workforce, were union members by the end of last year.

The growth is heavily influenced by state-level politics. States that protect collective bargaining rights added three times as many members as right-to-work states. Currently, union density is roughly 14% in collective bargaining states compared to 5% in right-to-work states. Additionally, workers in collective bargaining states earn higher average hourly wages of $37.24, compared to $34.16 in right-to-work states after adjusting for cost of living.

Public sentiment toward unions also remains high. A Gallup poll indicates that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, a level matching recent highs and representing the highest approval since the 1950s. Furthermore, 47% of respondents expressed a desire for unions to have more influence than they currently possess.