BLS Data on Unions

Data on union membership are summarized in an annual news release; the most recent release is
Union Members in 2007
www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.toc.htm (also available in a PDF file)

The latest news release includes the Union Members Summary and tables showing

• Union affiliation by selected characteristics, 2006 and 2007 (age, sex, race, etc.)
• Earnings of workers by union affiliation and selected characteristics, 2006 and 2007
• Union affiliation by occupation and industry, 2006 and 2007
• Earnings by union affiliation, occupation, and industry, 2006 and 2007
• Union affiliation by state, 2006 and 2007

Union Membership news releases from previous years are available in our news release archives:
www.bls.gov/schedule/archives/all_nr.htm#UNION2
Note that data in archived news releases may have been revised in subsequent releases. Historical data on a consistent basis for 2000 forward is available for all tables in the release at www.bls.gov/cps/cpslutabs.htm

Union membership data for 1983-2006 can be found in table 38 of Women in the Labor Force: A Databook. Additional data for 1983-2006, including union membership by race, ethnicity, industry and occupation, can be obtained by contacting the Current Population Survey program by email or at (202) 691-6378.

Occupational earnings by union status for metropolitan areas and other geographic areas may be found in the publications listed on www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm

Data on trends in compensation costs for union workers appear in the Employment Cost Index news release:
Employment Cost Index
www.bls.gov/news.release/eci.toc.htm

Work stoppages data appear in an annual news release and in monthly data tables:
Major Work Stoppages News Release
www.bls.gov/news.release/wkstp.toc.htm
Major Work Stoppages: Detailed Monthly Data
www.bls.gov/cba/mwsdetail.htm
CES Strike Report: Summary of Strike Activity During Survey Reference Pay Period
www.bls.gov/ces/cesstrk.htm

Data on persons employed by labor unions and similar labor organizations are also available. The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program produces data on employment and average annual pay in labor unions and similar labor organizations (NAICS 813930 in the North American Industry Classification System). The Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program produces estimates of occupational employment and wages for the industry. (Note that QCEW and OES data pertain to persons employed by union organizations.)

Additional information and analysis may be found in selected articles in these BLS publications:

Compensation and Working Conditions Online
www.bls.gov/opub/cwc/home.htm (search at: www.bls.gov/search/cwc.asp?ct=CWC)
Examples:

• Profiles of Significant Collective Bargaining Disputes in 2006
• Employee Contributions to Employer-Provided Medical Plans by Bargaining Status, Private Industry, 2005
• Differences in Union and Nonunion Earnings in Blue-collar and Service Occupations

Monthly Labor Review Online
www.bls.gov/opub/mlr/mlrhome.htm (see collective bargaining in the MLR index)
Example:

• Measuring union-nonunion earnings differences

The Editor's Desk
www.bls.gov/opub/ted/tedhome.htm (see collective bargaining in the TED Subject matter index)
Example:

• Union membership by State, 2007

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data on workers who are members of or are represented by unions come from the following programs:

• Current Population Survey (CPS) — a monthly household survey from which data are published on union members by demographic and job characteristics (www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm)
• National Compensation Survey (NCS) — an establishment survey that produces estimates of occupational wages by area (www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/home.htm)
• Compensation Cost Trends — measures change over time in labor costs (www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/home.htm)
• Work Stoppages — reports monthly major work stoppages (www.bls.gov/wsp/home.htm)

BLS does not have any data on membership of specific unions or labor organizations. 

Information pertaining to unions is also available from other government offices, including:

Office of Labor-Management Standards
Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
Department of Labor
www.dol.gov/esa/olms_org.htm
www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/olms/rrlo/lmrda.htm
(Information on individual unions, including financial reports)

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
www.nlrb.gov
(Administers the National Labor Relations Act)

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)
www.fmcs.gov
(Provides mediation and arbitration services)

Last Modified Date: February 6, 2008