Figure D
Union erosion was major cause of wage suppression in recent decades: Real median wages (in $2020), Actual and without effect of eroded unionization, 1979-2017
| Actual median hourly wage | Median hourly wage without union decline | |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $18.39 | 18.39 |
| 1988 | 17.83 | 18.65 |
| 2000 | 18.51 | 19.69 |
| 2017 | 19.70 | 21.27 |
| 2020 |
Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.
Source: Author’s analysis of unpublished tabulations from Thomas Lemieux (2021) using model in Fortin, Lemieux, and Lloyd (2021).
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