Union Membership Surges, But State Politics Decide Who Joins

Union membership in the U.S. is on the rise, but not everywhere equally. Last year, over 411,000 new workers joined unions, marking the biggest jump since 2008. By the end of the year, more than 14.6 million Americans were part of a union, making up about 10% of the workforce.

The key factor? State politics. A report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois found that states protecting collective bargaining rights added three times more union members than right-to-work states. These right-to-work states don't require workers to join or pay dues as a condition of employment.

Robert Bruno, one of the study's authors, said the main driver is the political climate. "If the policy is anti-union, it suppresses worker will," he explained. "Where the law allows worker will to flourish, you see higher numbers. You can't ignore politics. You can't ignore policy."

Currently, 26 states have right-to-work laws. Union membership rates are about 14% in collective bargaining states and only 5% in right-to-work states. Workers in collective bargaining states also earn more. After adjusting for cost of living, hourly earnings averaged $37.24 in those states compared to $34.16 in right-to-work states.

Despite recent growth, union density is still far below its peak. In 1954, over a third of American workers were unionized. Today, that number is around 10%. Unions face challenges at both state and federal levels. Southern states have introduced laws limiting union growth, and federal efforts have targeted collective bargaining rights for over a million government workers.

Still, public support for unions is growing across party lines. Gallup polling shows increasing approval among both Republicans and Democrats. Frank Manzo IV, a coauthor of the report, noted that more Americans are turning to unions as a way to fight rising living costs. "More public sector workers turned towards unions last year," he said.

Critics argue that unions' impact on wages has been exaggerated. A 2025 review by the Mercatus Center found that strong unions can slow job growth and reduce company investments. However, researchers at George Mason University noted that the wage gap between union and nonunion workers has narrowed in recent years.

This year, lawmakers in 19 states passed dozens of bills aimed at strengthening worker protections, showing continued momentum in the labor movement.