U.S. private-sector union membership rate, 1929–2019
| Year | Percent union members (1929-1972) | Percent union members (1973-2019) |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 12.4% | |
| 1930 | 13.3% | |
| 1931 | 14.0% | |
| 1932 | 15.2% | |
| 1933 | 15.5% | |
| 1934 | 16.3% | |
| 1935 | 14.2% | |
| 1936 | 15.0% | |
| 1937 | 19.5% | |
| 1938 | 21.9% | |
| 1939 | 22.8% | |
| 1940 | 24.3% | |
| 1941 | 25.9% | |
| 1942 | 28.1% | |
| 1943 | 30.8% | |
| 1944 | 32.4% | |
| 1945 | 33.9% | |
| 1946 | 34.1% | |
| 1947 | 34.9% | |
| 1948 | 34.7% | |
| 1949 | 34.9% | |
| 1950 | 34.6% | |
| 1951 | 34.7% | |
| 1952 | 35.2% | |
| 1953 | 35.7% | |
| 1954 | 35.6% | |
| 1955 | 35.1% | |
| 1956 | 34.7% | |
| 1957 | 34.7% | |
| 1958 | 33.9% | |
| 1959 | 32.3% | |
| 1960 | 31.9% | |
| 1961 | 31.9% | |
| 1962 | 31.6% | |
| 1963 | 31.2% | |
| 1964 | 31.0% | |
| 1965 | 30.8% | |
| 1966 | 30.3% | |
| 1967 | 30.5% | |
| 1968 | 29.9% | |
| 1969 | 29.0% | |
| 1970 | 29.1% | |
| 1971 | 28.2% | |
| 1972 | 27.3% | |
| 1973 | 24.5% | |
| 1974 | 23.6% | |
| 1975 | 21.7% | |
| 1976 | 21.5% | |
| 1977 | 21.7% | |
| 1978 | 20.7% | |
| 1979 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 20.1% | |
| 1981 | 18.7% | |
| 1982 | 17.6% | |
| 1983 | 16.5% | |
| 1984 | 15.3% | |
| 1985 | 14.3% | |
| 1986 | 13.8% | |
| 1987 | 13.2% | |
| 1988 | 12.7% | |
| 1989 | 12.3% | |
| 1990 | 11.9% | |
| 1991 | 11.7% | |
| 1992 | 11.4% | |
| 1993 | 11.1% | |
| 1994 | 10.8% | |
| 1995 | 10.3% | |
| 1996 | 10.0% | |
| 1997 | 9.7% | |
| 1998 | 9.5% | |
| 1999 | 9.4% | |
| 2000 | 9.0% | |
| 2001 | 9.0% | |
| 2002 | 8.6% | |
| 2003 | 8.2% | |
| 2004 | 7.9% | |
| 2005 | 7.8% | |
| 2006 | 7.4% | |
| 2007 | 7.5% | |
| 2008 | 7.6% | |
| 2009 | 7.2% | |
| 2010 | 6.9% | |
| 2011 | 6.9% | |
| 2012 | 6.6% | |
| 2013 | 6.7% | |
| 2014 | 6.6% | |
| 2015 | 6.7% | |
| 2016 | 6.4% | |
| 2017 | 6.5% | |
| 2018 | 6.4% | |
| 2019 | 6.2% |
Notes: There is no definitive, fully time-consistent series on union membership as a share of employment. Figures for 1929–1972 were compiled by Troy and Sheflin (1985, Appendix A) from union financial reports; those for 1973 forward are compiled from Current Population Survey (CPS) household data (Hirsch and Macpherson, 2003, updated at http://www. unionstats.com). 1973–76 CPS figures adjusted to account for association members, who are included both in the Troy-Sheflin series and in the CPS beginning in 1977. 1973 CPS figure adjusted so that 73/77 CPS ratio equals 73/77 ratio in Troy and Sheflin.
Source: Hirsch 2008.