Per-pupil education spending rises with union density: Per-pupil education spending in high-, medium-, and low-union-density states
| Union density level | Per-pupil expenditures |
|---|---|
| Low | $15,568 |
| Medium | $18,102 |
| High | $22,777 |
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.
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. Low-union-density states are the 17 states with the lowest average union densities from 2022-2024 (with union densities ranging from 3% to 8%). Medium-union-density states are the 17 states (including D.C.) in the middle of the union-density rankings (with union densities ranging from 8.2% to 13.1%). High-union-density states are the 17 states with the highest average union densities from 2022–2024 (greater than 13.4%).
Source: EPI analysis of 2022–2024 Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group (CPS-ORG) microdata for all workers ages 16 and older; National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), National Public Education Financial Survey Data, School Year 2021-202 (v.1a), Common Core of Data, June 2024.