A large share of workers do not have the union representation they want and need: Share of workers who are either covered by a union contract or would vote for a union in their workplace, and share of workers who are covered by a union contract, 1977 and 2017
| Year | Share of workers either covered by a union contract or who would vote for a union | Share of workers covered by a union contract |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 50.8% | 26.5% |
| 2017 | 54.2% | 11.9% |
Source: Reproduced from Figure A in Heidi Shierholz, Working People Have Been Thwarted in Their Efforts to Bargain for Better Wages by Attacks on Unions, Economic Policy Institute, August 2019.
Source: Reproduced from Figure A in Heidi Shierholz, Working People Have Been Thwarted in Their Efforts to Bargain for Better Wages, Economic Policy Institute, August 2019. Data are from the author’s analysis of Thomas A. Kochan et al., “Worker Voice in America: Is There a Gap Between What Workers Expect and What They Experience?” ILR Review 72, no. 1 (2019), and Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Population Survey public data series.