Union membership hit a new low in 2024 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: 9.9%. That’s down slightly from the previous low of 10.0% in 2023. The rate was higher for public sector workers — 32.2% — but was just 5.9% for private sector workers.
Rates of unionization vary widely. The most unionized states were Hawaii (26.5%), New York (20.6%), Alaska (17.7%), Connecticut (16.5%), and New Jersey (16.2%). The least unionized were North Carolina (2.4%), South Dakota (2.7%), and South Carolina (2.8%). Washington was sixth (16.0%). Oregon was seventh (15.9%). And Idaho tied with North Dakota for 38th (5.0%).
Workers aged 45 to 54 had the highest union membership rate, 12.6%. Those 16 to 24 had the lowest rate, 4.3%.
All told there were 14.3 million union members, and another 1.7 million workers who were represented by a union but not members.
The data come from a monthly sample survey by the U.S. Census Bureau of about 60,000 households.
