Stronger state union policies would raise wages in 27 states: Estimated impact of raising union density by repealing right-to-work and ensuring public-sector bargaining rights
| State | Actual union density | New union density | Wage increases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 6.8% | 15.2% | $3,100 |
| Arizona | 4.0% | 13.7% | $3,600 |
| Arkansas | 3.8% | 15.6% | $4,000 |
| Colorado | 6.9% | 14.8% | $3,500 |
| Florida | 5.0% | 13.1% | $3,000 |
| Georgia | 4.5% | 14.4% | $3,700 |
| Idaho | 4.5% | 15.0% | $3,800 |
| Indiana | 8.4% | 14.0% | $2,000 |
| Iowa | 6.8% | 14.4% | $2,700 |
| Kansas | 7.2% | 10.3% | $1,100 |
| Kentucky | 8.8% | 14.7% | $1,900 |
| Louisiana | 4.2% | 15.8% | $3,900 |
| Maryland | 11.6% | 15.1% | $1,600 |
| Mississippi | 5.5% | 16.9% | $3,700 |
| Nebraska | 6.9% | 11.3% | $1,600 |
| North Carolina | 2.5% | 13.9% | $4,200 |
| North Dakota | 5.7% | 16.0% | $3,900 |
| Oklahoma | 6.1% | 15.8% | $3,300 |
| South Carolina | 2.6% | 14.8% | $4,300 |
| South Dakota | 2.9% | 9.4% | $2,400 |
| Tennessee | 5.1% | 14.6% | $3,500 |
| Texas | 4.6% | 14.0% | $3,400 |
| Utah | 3.9% | 14.8% | $4,000 |
| Virginia | 4.9% | 15.5% | $4,500 |
| West Virginia | 8.7% | 16.4% | $2,700 |
| Wisconsin | 6.8% | 14.0% | $2,800 |
| Wyoming | 5.7% | 19.2% | $4,900 |
Notes:Analysis of EPI CPS ORG microdata. Union density is assumed to rise by the amount for each state to the levels in the column labeled “New union density.” Wage effects are based on a regression using state-level annual data of log median hourly wages on union density, adjusted for state and year-level effects and several economic and demographic controls as described in the text. Wage effects are annualized to full-time, full-year workers by multiplying the hourly wage effect by 2080 hours.
Source: Author's analysis of Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group microdata, EPI Current Population Survey Extracts, Version 2026.5.14, https://microdata.epi.org.
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