Nonunion wages for workers without more than a high school education would get a boost by restoring union membership to 1979 level: Estimated weekly wages and weekly wages at 1979 union density for nonunion private-sector workers with a high school diploma or less, by gender, select years 1979–2013 (2013 dollars)
Men
| Year | Estimated | At 1979 union density |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $744.79 | |
| 1983 | $691.57 | $710.62 |
| 1993 | $655.00 | $695.46 |
| 2003 | $716.51 | $772.73 |
| 2013 | $684.07 | $745.12 |
Women
| Year | Actual | At 1979 union density |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $490.23 | |
| 1983 | $487.06 | $492.24 |
| 1993 | $502.81 | $513.75 |
| 2003 | $551.91 | $565.49 |
| 2013 | $515.22 | $528.60 |
Notes: Sample restricted to nonunion full-time workers in the private sector ages 16 to 64. See the text and Methodological Appendix for details on the analysis.
Source: Authors' analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata.