6.2 million state/local government union members push public-sector union membership close to private-sector levels: Union members by sector, 1949–2017 (in millions)
| Private | Public | State and local government | Federal government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 13.6 | 0.7 | ||
| 1950 | 13.2 | 0.7 | ||
| 1950 | 13.6 | 0.7 | ||
| 1951 | 14.4 | 0.8 | ||
| 1952 | 14.8 | 0.8 | ||
| 1953 | 15.5 | 0.8 | ||
| 1954 | 15.0 | 0.8 | ||
| 1955 | 15.3 | 0.8 | ||
| 1956 | 15.6 | 0.8 | ||
| 1957 | 15.7 | 0.8 | ||
| 1958 | 14.7 | 0.8 | ||
| 1959 | 14.6 | 0.8 | ||
| 1960 | 14.6 | 0.9 | ||
| 1961 | 14.5 | 0.9 | ||
| 1962 | 14.7 | 2.2 | ||
| 1963 | 14.8 | 2.3 | ||
| 1964 | 15.1 | 2.5 | ||
| 1965 | 15.6 | 2.6 | ||
| 1966 | 16.1 | 2.8 | ||
| 1967 | 16.6 | 3.1 | ||
| 1968 | 16.8 | 3.2 | ||
| 1969 | 16.9 | 3.3 | ||
| 1970 | 17.0 | 4.0 | ||
| 1971 | 16.5 | 4.3 | ||
| 1972 | 16.5 | 4.7 | ||
| 1973 | 16.8 | 5.1 | ||
| 1974 | 16.8 | 5.4 | ||
| 1975 | 16.4 | 5.8 | ||
| 1976 | 16.2 | 6.0 | ||
| 1977 | 15.9 | 5.8 | ||
| 1978 | 16.0 | 5.8 | ||
| 1979 | 16.2 | 5.8 | ||
| 1980 | 15.3 | 5.7 | ||
| 1981 | 15.0 | 5.7 | ||
| 1982 | 14.0 | 5.6 | ||
| 1983 | 13.2 | 5.4 | ||
| 1984 | 11.6 | 5.7 | ||
| 1985 | 11.2 | 5.7 | ||
| 1986 | 11.1 | 5.9 | ||
| 1987 | 10.8 | 6.1 | ||
| 1988 | 10.7 | 6.3 | ||
| 1989 | 10.5 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 1.0 |
| 1990 | 10.3 | 6.5 | 5.4 | 1.1 |
| 1991 | 10.0 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 1.0 |
| 1992 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 1.0 |
| 1993 | 9.6 | 7.0 | 5.9 | 1.1 |
| 1994 | 9.6 | 7.1 | 5.9 | 1.2 |
| 1995 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 1.1 |
| 1996 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 1.0 |
| 1997 | 9.4 | 6.7 | 5.7 | 1.0 |
| 1998 | 9.3 | 6.9 | 5.8 | 1.1 |
| 1999 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 6.0 | 1.0 |
| 2000 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 1.0 |
| 2001 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 1.1 |
| 2002 | 8.8 | 7.4 | 6.3 | 1.1 |
| 2003 | 8.5 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 |
| 2004 | 8.2 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 1.0 |
| 2005 | 8.3 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 1.0 |
| 2006 | 8.0 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 1.0 |
| 2007 | 8.1 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 0.9 |
| 2008 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 6.8 | 1.0 |
| 2009 | 7.4 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 1.0 |
| 2010 | 7.1 | 7.6 | 6.6 | 1.0 |
| 2011 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 6.5 | 1.0 |
| 2012 | 7.0 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 1.0 |
| 2013 | 7.3 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 0.9 |
| 2015 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 1.0 |
| 2016 | 7.4 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 1.0 |
| 2017 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 1.0 |
Note: Data allowing for a disaggregation of the public sector into federal government and state and local government became available in 1989.
Source: EPI analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata and Labor Research Association data