Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its annual report on unionization. As expected, labor unions continue to lose members. Based on the new numbers from BLS and those compiled over the years at UnionStats.com, the rate has plunged from 24 percent in 1973 to just 10.7 percent last year. The unionization rate fell 0.4 percentage points from 2015, and is down nearly 3 points (or 20 percent) since 2000.
In numerical terms, union membership either fell or stayed even year-over-year in 30 states. The number of union members grew in the other 20 states — including, it should be noted, in some right-to-work states such as Indiana (up 21,000), Tennessee (up 12,000), and Utah (up 12,000).
Meanwhile, the numbers demonstrate something else which is not new in 2016, but which continues to be important. The average union member is significantly older than the average American worker. Fifty-one percent of U.S. union members were 45 or older in 2016, compared to 42 of the working U.S. population.
These numbers are all politically significant, as unions are ready-made, organized and well-funded political armies that help shape the fiscal debate in their states and usually help Democrats win elections.
The 25 states with the lowest rates of union membership elected 41 of Republicans’ 52 current United States Senators and 22 of their 33 governors. Hillary Clinton carried only three of these states — Virginia, New Mexico, and New Hampshire. Although she managed to lose several more heavily unionized states, like Pennsylvania (12.1 percent union members), Ohio (12.4 percent) and Michigan (14.4 percent), the most heavily unionized states in America are clearly a lot friendlier to Democrats on elections at all levels.
