Unionization varies widely by state: Union density by state, 2018–2022 average
| State | Union density 2018–2022 | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 24.6% | High density |
| New York | 23.3% | High density |
| Washington | 19.7% | High density |
| Alaska | 18.6% | High density |
| Rhode Island | 18.4% | High density |
| California | 17.0% | High density |
| New Jersey | 17.0% | High density |
| Oregon | 16.7% | High density |
| Connecticut | 16.5% | High density |
| Minnesota | 15.9% | High density |
| Michigan | 15.5% | High density |
| Nevada | 14.8% | High density |
| Illinois | 14.8% | High density |
| Maine | 14.3% | High density |
| Ohio | 13.7% | High density |
| Pennsylvania | 13.7% | High density |
| Massachusetts | 13.6% | High density |
| Vermont | 13.0% | Medium density |
| Maryland | 12.9% | Medium density |
| Montana | 12.8% | Medium density |
| New Hampshire | 11.4% | Medium density |
| Kansas | 11.0% | Medium density |
| Missouri | 10.8% | Medium density |
| West Virginia | 10.8% | Medium density |
| District of Columbia | 10.4% | Medium density |
| Delaware | 10.2% | Medium density |
| Kentucky | 10.1% | Medium density |
| Indiana | 9.5% | Medium density |
| New Mexico | 9.1% | Medium density |
| Wisconsin | 9.1% | Medium density |
| Colorado | 9.0% | Medium density |
| Nebraska | 8.8% | Medium density |
| Alabama | 8.8% | Medium density |
| Iowa | 8.6% | Medium density |
| Wyoming | 8.0% | Medium density |
| Mississippi | 7.6% | Low density |
| Oklahoma | 7.4% | Low density |
| North Dakota | 7.2% | Low density |
| Florida | 6.8% | Low density |
| Arizona | 6.7% | Low density |
| Utah | 6.5% | Low density |
| Idaho | 5.9% | Low density |
| Louisiana | 5.9% | Low density |
| Tennessee | 5.8% | Low density |
| South Dakota | 5.7% | Low density |
| Georgia | 5.7% | Low density |
| Arkansas | 5.4% | Low density |
| Virginia | 5.4% | Low density |
| Texas | 5.3% | Low density |
| North Carolina | 3.7% | Low density |
| South Carolina | 2.8% | Low density |
Notes: Union density is defined as the share of workers in the state who are represented by a union, including union members and other workers who are covered by a union contract, based on the variable “union” from EPI extracts of CPS-ORG microdata. We average union density data across 2018 to 2022 for each state to give a more accurate estimate of states’ typical unionization rates over time.
Source: Economic Policy Institute. 2023. Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 1.0.45, https://microdata.epi.org, 2018–2022 data.
This chart appears in:
- Who are today’s union workers?: Unionized workers are diverse, and they work in most industries across America
- Building Worker Power 2021
- Unions are not only good for workers, they’re good for communities and for democracy: High unionization levels are associated with positive outcomes across multiple indicators of economic, personal, and democratic well-being
- Union members 2023
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