Table 1

Share of workers represented by a union ranges from 3.2% in South Carolina to 24.7% in New York: Union density of the 50 U.S. states plus D.C., in descending order and grouped into high-, medium-, and low-union-density states

High union density Medium union density Low union density
NY 24.7% PA 13.3% WY 7.7%
HI 23.0% VT 12.6% MS 7.5%
AK 19.9% MD 12.2% OK 7.3%
WA 19.5% WV 12.1% FL 7.3%
CT 17.3% KY 11.8% ND 6.9%
RI 17.3% NH 11.7% SD 6.8%
NJ 16.8% DC 11.2% ID 6.3%
CA 16.7% DE 11.2% TN 6.2%
MI 15.8% MO 10.7% AZ 6.1%
OR 15.6% CO 10.6% VA 5.9%
NV 15.5% IN 10.3% LA 5.8%
IL 15.3% KS 10.3% AR 5.8%
MN 15.2% AL 9.6% UT 5.6%
ME 13.9% IA 9.6% TX 5.5%
OH 13.7% WI 9.0% GA 5.1%
MA 13.6% NE 8.8% NC 3.9%
MT 13.5% NM 8.3% SC 3.2%

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.

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. We average union density data across 2015 to 2019 for each state to give a more accurate estimate of states’ typical unionization rates over time. We do not include data beyond 2019 in our averages, to avoid any potential distortions related to the 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing recession.

Source: EPI analysis of 2015–2019 Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group (CPS-ORG) microdata for all workers ages 16 and older.

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