Unionization in manufacturing has fallen dramatically in the last 40 years: Union share of manufacturing employment by region, 1983–2025
| Year | Midwest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 40.7% | 34.1% | 21.3% | 24.4% |
| 1984 | 39.2% | 30.7% | 18.9% | 23.5% |
| 1985 | 37.7% | 29.1% | 17.9% | 21.9% |
| 1986 | 35.5% | 27.1% | 18.1% | 21.9% |
| 1987 | 35.0% | 26.6% | 16.7% | 20.3% |
| 1988 | 33.7% | 25.5% | 16.3% | 19.1% |
| 1989 | 32.9% | 24.7% | 14.9% | 20.0% |
| 1990 | 31.3% | 24.9% | 14.3% | 18.3% |
| 1991 | 30.3% | 24.2% | 15.5% | 16.6% |
| 1992 | 30.1% | 22.6% | 14.7% | 15.9% |
| 1993 | 29.4% | 21.7% | 14.1% | 14.8% |
| 1994 | 28.1% | 22.1% | 13.2% | 14.8% |
| 1995 | 27.1% | 21.5% | 12.2% | 14.1% |
| 1996 | 28.0% | 19.3% | 12.0% | 13.1% |
| 1997 | 25.8% | 19.7% | 10.8% | 12.8% |
| 1998 | 24.9% | 19.1% | 10.6% | 12.1% |
| 1999 | 24.7% | 18.5% | 11.1% | 11.3% |
| 2000 | 23.2% | 17.5% | 10.6% | 10.1% |
| 2001 | 22.8% | 16.9% | 10.7% | 10.8% |
| 2002 | 22.1% | 15.8% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2003 | 21.8% | 14.7% | 10.1% | 9.3% |
| 2004 | 21.6% | 15.2% | 8.9% | 8.9% |
| 2005 | 20.5% | 15.2% | 8.7% | 9.9% |
| 2006 | 18.3% | 13.5% | 8.4% | 9.3% |
| 2007 | 16.3% | 13.4% | 7.3% | 12.2% |
| 2008 | 17.6% | 12.4% | 7.6% | 11.6% |
| 2009 | 16.1% | 13.7% | 8.0% | 11.1% |
| 2010 | 16.0% | 12.1% | 8.4% | 10.4% |
| 2011 | 16.9% | 12.2% | 7.0% | 8.9% |
| 2012 | 14.4% | 10.9% | 7.8% | 9.3% |
| 2013 | 14.7% | 11.7% | 7.7% | 10.4% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | 11.7% | 7.3% | 8.9% |
| 2015 | 14.4% | 10.8% | 6.7% | 8.4% |
| 2016 | 13.9% | 10.6% | 6.0% | 8.3% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | 10.9% | 6.3% | 9.0% |
| 2018 | 13.0% | 9.9% | 6.8% | 9.7% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | 10.0% | 6.3% | 9.3% |
| 2020 | 12.9% | 10.2% | 6.1% | 8.2% |
| 2021 | 12.1% | 10.2% | 5.0% | 8.2% |
| 2022 | 13.4% | 9.8% | 4.6% | 7.2% |
| 2023 | 13.3% | 9.4% | 5.8% | 8.6% |
| 2024 | 12.1% | 10.0% | 5.6% | 8.4% |
| 2025 | 11.2% | 9.5% | 6.7% | 7.2% |
Note: Union share includes all workers covered by a union contract.
Source: EPI analysis of CPS Outgoing Rotation Group data.