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Nine states had union membership rates below 5.0 percent in 2014, with North Carolina having the lowest rate (1.9 percent). The next-lowest rates were in South Carolina (2.2 percent) and Mississippi and Utah (3.7 percent each). Three states had union membership rates over 20.0 percent in 2014: New York (24.6 percent), Alaska (22.8 percent), and Hawaii (21.8 percent).
Union membership rates of employed wage and salary workers by state, 2014 annual averages
14.5 percent and higher
11.0 percent to 14.4 percent
8.4 percent to 10.9 percent
5.0 percent to 8.3 percent
4.9 percent and lower
13.7%
Massachusetts
Hover over a state to see data.
Hover over legend items to see states in a category.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Union membership rates of employed wage and salary workers by state, 2014 annual averages
State
Percent of employed who are members of unions
Alabama
10.8
Alaska
22.8
Arizona
5.3
Arkansas
4.7
California
16.3
Colorado
9.5
Connecticut
14.8
Delaware
9.9
District of Columbia
8.6
Florida
5.7
Georgia
4.3
Hawaii
21.8
Idaho
5.3
Illinois
15.1
Indiana
10.7
Iowa
10.7
Kansas
7.4
Kentucky
11.0
Louisiana
5.2
Maine
11.0
Maryland
11.9
Massachusetts
13.7
Michigan
14.5
Minnesota
14.2
Mississippi
3.7
Missouri
8.4
Montana
12.7
Nebraska
7.3
Nevada
14.4
New Hampshire
9.9
New Jersey
16.5
New Mexico
5.7
New York
24.6
North Carolina
1.9
North Dakota
5.0
Ohio
12.4
Oklahoma
6.0
Oregon
15.6
Pennsylvania
12.7
Rhode Island
15.1
South Carolina
2.2
South Dakota
4.9
Tennessee
5.0
Texas
4.8
Utah
3.7
Vermont
11.1
Virginia
4.9
Washington
16.8
West Virginia
10.6
Wisconsin
11.7
Wyoming
6.7
Note: Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time wage and salary workers. All self-employed workers are excluded, both those with incorporated businesses as well as those with unincorporated businesses.
In 2014, 30 states and the District of Columbia had union membership rates below the U.S. average of 11.1 percent. Nineteen states had rates above the U.S. average, and one state had a rate equal to the U.S. average. All states in the East South Central and West South Central divisions had union membership rates below the national average, and all states in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific divisions had rates above it. Union membership rates declined over the year in 27 states and the District of Columbia, rose in 18 states, and did not change in 5 states.
These data are from the Current Population Survey. To learn more, see "Union Members — 2014" (HTML) (PDF). The union membership rate is the percentage of wage and salary workers who are members of unions. The numbers exclude all self-employed workers.
United States Department of Labor
