U.S. Union Membership Hits Record Low in 2024

The percentage of unionized workers fell to 9.9%, reflecting decades-long challenges despite growing public support for organized labor.

Union membership in the United States dropped to 9.9% in 2024, the lowest rate since data collection began in 1983, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The total number of union members declined slightly to 14.3 million, with the private sector losing 184,000 members while the public sector gained 15,000.
Despite declining membership, surveys show strong public support for unions, with 70% of Americans backing organized labor in 2024, near levels last seen in the 1960s.
Experts attribute the decline to a combination of factors, including outdated labor laws, the rise of nonunion jobs in a growing service-based economy, and significant corporate opposition to unionization efforts.
The new presidential administration signals potential changes, with recent actions such as firing the National Labor Relations Board's pro-union general counsel and mixed indications on future labor policy.