Nonunion wages for workers without a college degree would get a boost by restoring union membership to its 1979 level: Estimated weekly wages and weekly wages at 1979 union density for nonunion private-sector workers with less than a college degree, by gender, select years 1979–2013 (2013 dollars)
Men
| Year | Estimated | At 1979 union density |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $792.24 | |
| 1983 | $741.57 | $760.18 |
| 1993 | $719.04 | $757.86 |
| 2003 | $797.64 | $852.26 |
| 2013 | $755.08 | $813.39 |
Women
| Year | Actual | At 1979 union density |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $516.85 | |
| 1983 | $519.43 | $524.38 |
| 1993 | $556.61 | $567.22 |
| 2003 | $625.62 | $638.82 |
| 2013 | $593.03 | $605.62 |
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.