U.S. private-sector union membership rate, 1929–2019
Year | Percent union members (1929-1972) | Percent union members (1973-2019) |
---|---|---|
1929 | 12.4% | |
1930 | 13.3% | |
1931 | 14.0% | |
1932 | 15.2% | |
1933 | 15.5% | |
1934 | 16.3% | |
1935 | 14.2% | |
1936 | 15.0% | |
1937 | 19.5% | |
1938 | 21.9% | |
1939 | 22.8% | |
1940 | 24.3% | |
1941 | 25.9% | |
1942 | 28.1% | |
1943 | 30.8% | |
1944 | 32.4% | |
1945 | 33.9% | |
1946 | 34.1% | |
1947 | 34.9% | |
1948 | 34.7% | |
1949 | 34.9% | |
1950 | 34.6% | |
1951 | 34.7% | |
1952 | 35.2% | |
1953 | 35.7% | |
1954 | 35.6% | |
1955 | 35.1% | |
1956 | 34.7% | |
1957 | 34.7% | |
1958 | 33.9% | |
1959 | 32.3% | |
1960 | 31.9% | |
1961 | 31.9% | |
1962 | 31.6% | |
1963 | 31.2% | |
1964 | 31.0% | |
1965 | 30.8% | |
1966 | 30.3% | |
1967 | 30.5% | |
1968 | 29.9% | |
1969 | 29.0% | |
1970 | 29.1% | |
1971 | 28.2% | |
1972 | 27.3% | |
1973 | 24.5% | |
1974 | 23.6% | |
1975 | 21.7% | |
1976 | 21.5% | |
1977 | 21.7% | |
1978 | 20.7% | |
1979 | 21.2% | |
1980 | 20.1% | |
1981 | 18.7% | |
1982 | 17.6% | |
1983 | 16.5% | |
1984 | 15.3% | |
1985 | 14.3% | |
1986 | 13.8% | |
1987 | 13.2% | |
1988 | 12.7% | |
1989 | 12.3% | |
1990 | 11.9% | |
1991 | 11.7% | |
1992 | 11.4% | |
1993 | 11.1% | |
1994 | 10.8% | |
1995 | 10.3% | |
1996 | 10.0% | |
1997 | 9.7% | |
1998 | 9.5% | |
1999 | 9.4% | |
2000 | 9.0% | |
2001 | 9.0% | |
2002 | 8.6% | |
2003 | 8.2% | |
2004 | 7.9% | |
2005 | 7.8% | |
2006 | 7.4% | |
2007 | 7.5% | |
2008 | 7.6% | |
2009 | 7.2% | |
2010 | 6.9% | |
2011 | 6.9% | |
2012 | 6.6% | |
2013 | 6.7% | |
2014 | 6.6% | |
2015 | 6.7% | |
2016 | 6.4% | |
2017 | 6.5% | |
2018 | 6.4% | |
2019 | 6.2% |
Notes: There is no definitive, fully time-consistent series on union membership as a share of employment. Figures for 1929–1972 were compiled by Troy and Sheflin (1985, Appendix A) from union financial reports; those for 1973 forward are compiled from Current Population Survey (CPS) household data (Hirsch and Macpherson, 2003, updated at http://www. unionstats.com). 1973–76 CPS figures adjusted to account for association members, who are included both in the Troy-Sheflin series and in the CPS beginning in 1977. 1973 CPS figure adjusted so that 73/77 CPS ratio equals 73/77 ratio in Troy and Sheflin.
Source: Hirsch 2008.