In the wake of new political battles over workers’ rights—including President Trump’s recent executive order curbing collective bargaining for federal employees—organized labor is once again front and center in the national conversation. And while unionization is fading in some locations, others may be poised to see a resurgence.
A new analysis from Construction Coverage identifies the cities and states with the highest union membership rates, as well as long-term trends in unionization and wage differences between union and non-union workers nationwide.
Key Takeaways, With Data for New York State
- Nationwide, Union Membership Is at a Historic Low: Just 9.9% of all U.S. workers were union members in 2024, down from 24.1% in 1979. This decline reflects decades of political, economic, and structural shifts in the labor force.
- However, Non-Union Workers Tend to Earn Less: In 2024, full-time union employees earned a country-wide median of $1,337 per week—17.5% more than their non-union counterparts ($1,138), a difference of more than $10,000 annually.
- Right-to-Work States Lag Behind: States with right-to-work laws—which prohibit mandatory union membership or dues as a condition of employment—consistently rank lower in union membership.
- Unionization Is High in New York State: A total of 1,705,865 workers belong to unions in New York State, or 20.6%—the 2nd highest union membership rate in the country.
The full report covers over 250 U.S. metros and all 50 states, with a detailed breakdown of union membership and representation rates and totals.