Key facts
- US union membership grew by 411,000 in 2025, marking the largest increase since 2008.
- States with collective bargaining protections saw nearly 305,000 new union members.
- "Right-to-work" states added approximately 107,000 union members in the same period.
- National union density increased to 10.0% in 2025 from 9.9%.
- A Gallup poll indicated 71% of Americans approve of labor unions.
Union membership in the U.S. saw a significant increase in 2025, adding 411,000 members, the largest gain since 2008. This growth was largely concentrated in states that protect collective bargaining rights, which saw nearly triple the membership increase compared to "right-to-work" states. The report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal highlights that states with collective bargaining protections added approximately 305,000 members, while "right-to-work" states added about 107,000.
"Right-to-work" laws, which allow employees to benefit from union contracts without paying dues, are argued to weaken union membership. In states with protections, union membership rates were nearly triple those in "right-to-work" states. Nationally, union density rose to 10.0% in 2025 from 9.9% the previous year, with 16.5 million workers represented by unions.
The increase in unionization coincides with high public approval, with a Gallup poll showing 71% of Americans approve of labor unions and 47% want them to have more influence. A separate poll by the AFL-CIO found 52% of the public trusts labor unions. Young workers, in particular, show strong support, with 57% of non-union young workers indicating they would join a union if possible.
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, emphasized that high costs of living are driving workers to seek union representation. Researchers found that unions raise average wages by 8% nationally, and workers in states with collective bargaining protections earn 8% more, adjusted for cost of living, than those in states with restrictions. The wage gap between workers in states with and without protections has widened significantly over the past decade.