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691-5902

USDL 04-53
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Wednesday, January 21, 2004

UNION MEMBERS IN 2003

In 2003, 12.9 percent of wage and salary workers were union members,
down from 13.3 percent in 2002, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of
Labor Statistics reported today. The number of persons belonging to a
union fell by 369,000 over the year to 15.8 million in 2003. The union
membership rate has steadily declined from a high of 20.1 percent in 1983,
the first year for which comparable union data are available. Some
highlights from the 2003 data are:
--Men were more likely to be union members than women.
--Blacks were more likely to be union members than were whites, Asians,
and Hispanics or Latinos.
--Nearly 4 in 10 government workers were union members in 2003, compared
with less than 1 in 10 workers in private-sector industries.
--Nearly two-fifths of workers in education, training, and library
occupations and in protective service occupations were union members
in 2003. Protective service occupations include fire fighters and
police officers.
Membership by Industry and Occupation
In 2003, workers in the public sector had a union membership rate more
than four times that of private-sector employees, 37.2 percent compared
with 8.2 percent. The unionization rate for government workers has held
steady since 1983. The rate for private industry workers has fallen by
about half over the same time period. Within government, local government
workers had the highest union membership rate, 42.6 percent. This group
includes the heavily unionized occupations of teachers, police officers,
and fire fighters. Among major private industries, transportation and
utilities had the highest union membership rate, at 26.2 percent. Construction (16.0 percent), information industries (13.6 percent), and manufacturing (13.5 percent) also had higher-than-average rates. Agriculture
and related industries had the lowest unionization rate in 2003--1.6 percent.
(See table 3.)

Among occupational groups, education, training, and library occupations
(37.7 percent) and protective service workers (36.1 percent) had the highest
unionization rates in 2003. Natural resources, construction, and maintenance
workers and production, transportation, and material moving occupations also
had higher-than-average union membership rates at 19.2 percent and 18.7 percent, respectively. Among the major occupational groups, sales and office
occupations had the lowest unionization rate--8.2 percent. (See table 3.)
Demographic Characteristics of Union Members
In 2003, union membership rates were higher for men (14.3 percent) than
for women (11.4 percent). The gap between men's and women's rates has
narrowed considerably since 1983, when the rate for men was 10 percentage
points higher than the rate for women.
- 2 Blacks were more likely to be union members (16.5 percent) than were
whites (12.5 percent), Asians (11.4 percent), or Hispanics (10.7 percent).
Union membership rates were highest among workers 45 to 54 years old.
Full-time workers were more than twice as likely as part-time workers to
be union members. (See table 1.)
Union Representation of Nonmembers
About 1.7 million wage and salary workers were represented by a union
on their main job in 2003, while not being union members themselves. (See
table 1.) About half of these workers were employed in government. (See
table 3.)
Earnings
In 2003, full-time wage and salary workers who were union members had
median usual weekly earnings of $760, compared with a median of $599 for
wage and salary workers who were not represented by unions. (See table 2.)
The difference reflects a variety of influences in addition to coverage by
a collective bargaining agreement, including variations in the distributions
of union members and nonunion employees by occupation, industry, firm size,
or geographic region. (For a discussion of the problem of differentiating
between the influence of unionization status and the influence of other worker characteristics on employee earnings, see "Measuring union-nonunion earnings differences," Monthly Labor Review, June 1990.)
Union Membership by State
In 2003, 33 states reported lower union membership rates, while 15 states

and the District of Columbia registered increased rates. Two states reported no change in their union membership rates from 2002 to 2003. Twenty-nine
states had union membership rates below that of the U.S., while 21 states and
the District of Columbia had higher rates. All states in the Middle Atlantic
and Pacific divisions again had union membership rates above the national average of 12.9 percent, while all states in the East South Central and West
South Central divisions continued to have rates below it. (See table 5.)
Four states had union membership rates over 20 percent in 2003--New
York (24.6 percent), Hawaii (23.8 percent), Alaska (22.3 percent), and
Michigan (21.9 percent). This is the same rank order as in both 2001 and
2002. All four states have had rates above 20 percent every year since
data became regularly available in 1995. North Carolina and South Carolina
continued to report the lowest union membership rates, 3.1 and 4.2 percent,
respectively. These two states have had the lowest union membership rates
each year since the state series became available.
The largest numbers of union members lived in California (2.4 million),
New York (1.9 million), and Illinois (1.0 million). About half (7.9 million)
of the 15.8 million union members in the U.S. lived in six states (California,
New York, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania), although these states
accounted for just over one-third of wage and salary employment nationally.
The number of union members in a state depends on both its union membership rate and the size of its employed workforce. Texas had only about onefourth as many union members as New York, despite having 1.2 million more
wage and salary employees.

Technical Note

The estimates in this release are obtained from the Current Population
Survey (CPS), which provides the basic information on the labor force,
employment, and unemployment. The survey is conducted monthly for the
Bureau of Labor Statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau from a scientifically
selected national sample of about 60,000 households. The union membership
and earnings data are tabulated from one-quarter of the CPS monthly sample
and are limited to wage and salary workers. Excluded are all self-employed
workers.
Data for 2002 presented in this release have been revised to incorporate

changes to the class of worker status associated with the introduction of
the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the
Current Population Survey. In addition, the data for 2003 reflect revised
CPS population controls introduced in January 2003. For a discussion of
the revised population controls and the impact that their introduction had
on CPS data, see "Revisions to the Current Population Survey Effective in
January 2003" in the February 2003 issue of Employment and Earnings and
available at http://www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf on the BLS Web site.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200, TDD message referral
phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling
error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed,
there is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true"
population values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error,
varies depending upon the particular sample selected, and this variability
is measured by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90percent chance, or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample
will differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population
value because of sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at
the 90-percent level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of
the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the
sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
Definitions
The principal definitions used in this release are described briefly
below.
Union members. Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee
association similar to a union.
Represented by unions. Data refer to union members, as well as workers
who have no union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an

employee association contract.
Usual weekly earnings. Data represent earnings before taxes and other
deductions and include any overtime pay, commissions, or tips usually
received (at the main job in the case of multiple jobholders). Prior to
1994, respondents were asked how much they usually earned per week. Since
January 1994, respondents have been asked to identify the easiest way for
them to report earnings (hourly, weekly, biweekly, twice monthly, monthly,
annually, other) and how much they usually earn in the reported time period.
Earnings reported on a basis other than weekly are converted to a weekly
equivalent. The term "usual" is as perceived by the respondent. If the
respondent asks for a definition of usual, interviewers are instructed to
define the term as more than half the weeks worked during the past 4 or
5 months.
Median earnings. The median is the amount which divides a given earnings
distribution into two equal groups, one having earnings above the median and
the other having earnings below the median.
The estimating procedure places each reported or calculated weekly
earnings value into $50-wide intervals which are centered around multiples
of $50. The actual value is estimated through the linear interpolation of
the interval in which the median lies.
Wage and salary workers. Workers who receive wages, salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece rates. The group includes
employees in both the private and public sectors but, for the purposes
of the union membership and earnings series, excludes all self-employed
persons, regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.
Full-time workers. Workers who usually work 35 hours or more per week
at their sole or principal job.
Part-time workers. Workers who usually work fewer than 35 hours per
week at their sole or principal job.
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Refers to persons who identified themselves in the enumeration process as being Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino.
Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any
race.

Table 1.

Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by selected characteristics

(Numbers in thousands)

2002

Members of
unions(1)
Characteristic

Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

2003

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

Members of
unions(1)
Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

AGE AND SEX
Total, 16 years and over................... 121,826
16 to 24 years............................ 19,216
25 years and over......................... 102,610
25 to 34 years........................... 28,232
35 to 44 years........................... 31,253
45 to 54 years........................... 27,040
55 to 64 years........................... 12,952
65 years and over........................
3,133

16,145
995
15,151
3,172
4,455
5,016
2,256
251

13.3
5.2
14.8
11.2
14.3
18.6
17.4
8.0

17,695
1,126
16,569
3,522
4,859
5,446
2,456
285

14.5
5.9
16.1
12.5
15.5
20.1
19.0
9.1

122,358
18,904
103,454
28,179
30,714
27,567
13,633
3,361

15,776
966
14,810
3,097
4,308
4,848
2,300
258

12.9
5.1
14.3
11.0
14.0
17.6
16.9
7.7

17,448
1,124
16,324
3,455
4,717
5,307
2,547
297

14.3
5.9
15.8
12.3
15.4
19.3
18.7
8.8

Men, 16 years and over....................
16 to 24 years...........................
25 years and over........................
25 to 34 years..........................
35 to 44 years..........................
45 to 54 years..........................
55 to 64 years..........................
65 years and over.......................

63,272
9,857
53,415
15,284
16,355
13,578
6,570
1,627

9,325
616
8,709
1,877
2,631
2,784
1,281
136

14.7
6.3
16.3
12.3
16.1
20.5
19.5
8.4

10,066
687
9,379
2,061
2,805
2,982
1,376
155

15.9
7.0
17.6
13.5
17.1
22.0
21.0
9.5

63,236
9,683
53,553
15,263
16,080
13,723
6,776
1,710

9,044
595
8,450
1,826
2,535
2,684
1,271
133

14.3
6.1
15.8
12.0
15.8
19.6
18.8
7.8

9,848
685
9,163
2,005
2,735
2,891
1,377
155

15.6
7.1
17.1
13.1
17.0
21.1
20.3
9.0

Women, 16 years and over..................
16 to 24 years...........................
25 years and over........................
25 to 34 years..........................
35 to 44 years..........................
45 to 54 years..........................
55 to 64 years..........................
65 years and over.......................

58,555
9,359
49,196
12,948
14,898
13,462
6,383
1,506

6,820
378
6,441
1,295
1,825
2,232
975
115

11.6
4.0
13.1
10.0
12.2
16.6
15.3
7.6

7,629
439
7,190
1,461
2,055
2,464
1,080
130

13.0
4.7
14.6
11.3
13.8
18.3
16.9
8.6

59,122
9,221
49,901
12,916
14,634
13,844
6,857
1,651

6,732
371
6,360
1,270
1,773
2,163
1,029
125

11.4
4.0
12.7
9.8
12.1
15.6
15.0
7.6

7,601
439
7,161
1,451
1,982
2,416
1,170
142

12.9
4.8
14.4
11.2
13.5
17.5
17.1
8.6

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC OR LATINO ETHNICITY

White, 16 years and over(3)............... 100,923
Men..................................... 53,198
Women................................... 47,725

12,958
7,689
5,269

12.8
14.5
11.0

14,178
8,284
5,894

14.0
15.6
12.3

100,589
52,827
47,762

12,535
7,378
5,157

12.5
14.0
10.8

13,849
8,016
5,834

13.8
15.2
12.2

Black or African American, 16 years and
over(3).....................................
Men.....................................
Women...................................

14,108
6,493
7,615

2,386
1,183
1,204

16.9
18.2
15.8

2,624
1,281
1,343

18.6
19.7
17.6

13,928
6,302
7,626

2,298
1,153
1,145

16.5
18.3
15.0

2,540
1,249
1,291

18.2
19.8
16.9

Asian, 16 years and over(3)...............
Men.....................................
Women...................................

5,540
2,909
2,631

643
356
286

11.6
12.3
10.9

719
396
322

13.0
13.6
12.3

5,096
2,699
2,397

581
296
285

11.4
11.0
11.9

659
346
313

12.9
12.8
13.1

Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over.....
Men.....................................
Women...................................

15,486
9,098
6,387

1,639
1,006
633

10.6
11.1
9.9

1,810
1,100
710

11.7
12.1
11.1

16,068
9,567
6,501

1,712
1,050
662

10.7
11.0
10.2

1,913
1,160
753

11.9
12.1
11.6

Full-time workers......................... 100,081
Part-time workers......................... 21,513

14,622
1,492

14.6
6.9

16,005
1,654

16.0
7.7

100,302
21,809

14,263
1,479

14.2
6.8

15,732
1,679

15.7
7.7

FULL- OR PART-TIME STATUS(4)

1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no
union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not
included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as their
main race.
4 The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked. These data will not sum to totals
because full- or part-time status on the principal job is not identifiable for a small number of multiple jobholders.
NOTE: Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the class of worker status associated with the
introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current Population Survey.
Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Estimates for the above
race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and, therefore, are classified
by ethnicity as well as race. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all
self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Table 2.

Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation and selected characteristics

2002

2003

Characteristic
Total

Members
of
unions(1)

Represented
by
unions(2)

Nonunion

Total

Members
of
unions(1)

Represented
by
unions(2)

Nonunion

Total, 16 years and over...................
16 to 24 years............................
25 years and over.........................
25 to 34 years...........................
35 to 44 years...........................
45 to 54 years...........................
55 to 64 years...........................
65 years and over........................

$608
381
646
591
668
706
674
502

$738
497
752
677
758
788
785
590

$733
495
747
668
753
787
783
592

$587
374
622
578
647
674
641
485

$620
387
662
594
687
723
708
516

$760
497
774
707
787
812
797
619

$755
494
770
701
783
807
798
624

$599
381
636
580
665
695
678
504

Men, 16 years and over....................
16 to 24 years...........................
25 years and over........................
25 to 34 years..........................
35 to 44 years..........................
45 to 54 years..........................
55 to 64 years..........................
65 years and over.......................

679
391
732
627
759
807
802
583

780
497
796
718
811
832
834
612

775
495
793
708
807
832
836
614

652
385
713
615
747
794
784
575

695
398
744
628
775
834
827
612

805
498
821
737
841
865
834
713

802
493
821
732
839
865
842
720

667
392
724
613
759
822
821
603

Women, 16 years and over..................
16 to 24 years...........................
25 years and over........................
25 to 34 years..........................
35 to 44 years..........................
45 to 54 years..........................
55 to 64 years..........................
65 years and over.......................

529
367
568
530
571
602
574
430

666
496
678
621
672
728
709
542

662
495
673
617
668
723
709
543

509
361
540
516
546
580
542
415

552
371
584
546
590
609
601
435

696
495
709
661
706
736
748
517

691
494
704
657
703
731
743
531

523
366
562
525
574
589
576
422

White, 16 years and over(3)...............
Men.....................................
Women...................................

623
702
547

762
804
694

756
801
687

602
674
520

636
715
567

779
827
711

774
825
707

612
688
539

Black or African American, 16 years and
over(3).....................................

498

614

611

476

514

665

654

491

AGE AND SEX

RACE, SEX, AND HISPANIC
OR LATINO ETHNICITY

Men.....................................
Women...................................

524
473

650
588

642
588

502
443

555
491

693
633

687
622

518
467

Asian, 16 years and over(3)...............
Men.....................................
Women...................................

658
756
566

706
733
669

705
734
662

650
760
552

693
772
598

759
783
710

760
775
723

681
771
587

Hispanic or Latino, 16 years and over.....
Men.....................................
Women...................................

424
451
397

622
663
560

616
651
573

409
423
382

440
464
410

632
664
586

622
652
584

419
437
394

1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no
union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more than one race group are not
included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race group were included in the group they identified as their
main race.
NOTE: Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the class of worker status associated with the
introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current Population Survey.
Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Estimates for the above
race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races.
In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as "Hispanic or Latino" may be of any race and, therefore, are classified
by ethnicity as well as race. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all
self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Table 3.

Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by occupation and industry

(Numbers in thousands)

2002

Members of
unions(1)
Occupation and industry

Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

2003

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

Members of
unions(1)
Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

OCCUPATION
Management, professional, and related
occupations................................
Management, business, and financial
operations occupations.................
Management occupations..............
Business and financial operations
occupations........................
Professional and related occupations....
Computer and mathematical
occupations........................
Architecture and engineering
occupations........................
Life, physical, and social science
occupations........................
Community and social services
occupations........................
Legal occupations...................
Education, training, and library
occupations........................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports,
and media occupations..............
Healthcare practitioner and
technical occupations..............
Service occupations.........................
Healthcare support occupations..........
Protective service occupations..........
Food preparation and serving related
occupations............................
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations................
Personal care and service occupations...
Sales and office occupations................
Sales and related occupations...........
Office and administrative support
occupations............................
Natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations....................
Farming, fishing, and forestry
occupations............................
Construction and extraction occupations.
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations............................
Production, transportation, and material

40,610

5,384

13.3

6,153

15.2

40,883

5,331

13.0

6,130

15.0

15,553
10,799

838
521

5.4
4.8

1,003
627

6.4
5.8

15,465
10,713

727
436

4.7
4.1

882
546

5.7
5.1

4,754
25,057

317
4,546

6.7
18.1

375
5,150

7.9
20.6

4,753
25,418

291
4,604

6.1
18.1

336
5,248

7.1
20.6

2,938

119

4.0

157

5.4

2,947

154

5.2

197

6.7

2,573

200

7.8

222

8.6

2,592

202

7.8

240

9.2

1,164

117

10.0

142

12.2

1,203

108

9.0

136

11.3

2,116
1,162

361
61

17.1
5.3

409
79

19.3
6.8

2,118
1,134

351
54

16.6
4.8

395
65

18.6
5.7

7,352

2,799

38.1

3,124

42.5

7,584

2,861

37.7

3,207

42.3

1,928

164

8.5

196

10.2

1,879

140

7.5

157

8.4

5,825
19,766
2,564
2,670

725
2,352
317
981

12.5
11.9
12.4
36.7

822
2,570
339
1,036

14.1
13.0
13.2
38.8

5,961
20,183
2,824
2,699

733
2,318
312
974

12.3
11.5
11.0
36.1

853
2,562
341
1,038

14.3
12.7
12.1
38.5

6,811

281

4.1

328

4.8

7,150

292

4.1

347

4.9

4,497
3,224
32,249
13,341

531
242
2,616
504

11.8
7.5
8.1
3.8

596
271
2,879
554

13.3
8.4
8.9
4.2

4,426
3,084
32,323
13,378

490
251
2,642
533

11.1
8.1
8.2
4.0

550
286
2,974
599

12.4
9.3
9.2
4.5

18,909

2,111

11.2

2,324

12.3

18,945

2,109

11.1

2,375

12.5

11,517

2,359

20.5

2,462

21.4

11,894

2,288

19.2

2,409

20.3

976
6,354

45
1,473

4.6
23.2

48
1,529

4.9
24.1

921
6,412

33
1,394

3.5
21.7

38
1,457

4.1
22.7

4,188

841

20.1

885

21.1

4,560

862

18.9

913

20.0

moving occupations.........................
Production occupations..................
Transportation and material moving
occupations............................

17,684
9,716

3,435
1,780

19.4
18.3

3,631
1,868

20.5
19.2

17,074
9,261

3,196
1,624

18.7
17.5

3,374
1,710

19.8
18.5

7,968

1,655

20.8

1,763

22.1

7,814

1,572

20.1

1,664

21.3

Private sector.............................. 102,153
Agriculture and related industries........
1,126
Nonagricultural industries................ 101,027
Mining.................................
446
Construction...........................
7,080
Manufacturing.......................... 16,387
Durable goods...................... 10,235
Nondurable goods...................
6,151
Wholesale and retail trade............. 17,653
Wholesale trade....................
3,619
Retail trade....................... 14,034
Transportation and utilities...........
5,186
Transportation and warehousing.....
4,266
Utilities..........................
919
Information(3).........................
3,334
Publishing,.except Internet........
815
Motion pictures and sound recording
310
Broadcasting, except Internet......
515
Telecommunications.................
1,398
Financial activities...................
8,251
Finance and insurance..............
6,162
Finance........................
3,972
Insurance......................
2,190
Real estate and rental and leasing.
2,089
Professional and business services..... 10,916
Professional and technical services
6,493
Management, administrative, and
waste services....................
4,423
Education and health services.......... 16,088
Educational services...............
3,160
Health care and social assistance.. 12,928
Leisure and hospitality................ 10,286
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
1,904
Accommodation and food services....
8,382
Accommodation..................
1,394
Food services and drinking
places........................
6,988
Other services(3)......................
5,400
Other services, except private

8,800
31
8,769
39
1,179
2,399
1,592
807
1,040
182
858
1,283
1,050
233
487
73
44
39
323
164
92
52
40
73
293
98

8.6
2.8
8.7
8.7
16.7
14.6
15.6
13.1
5.9
5.0
6.1
24.7
24.6
25.4
14.6
9.0
14.3
7.6
23.1
2.0
1.5
1.3
1.8
3.5
2.7
1.5

9,535
34
9,501
45
1,222
2,521
1,664
857
1,111
192
919
1,343
1,099
244
532
84
52
48
339
206
125
75
50
81
355
129

9.3
3.0
9.4
10.1
17.3
15.4
16.3
13.9
6.3
5.3
6.5
25.9
25.8
26.6
16.0
10.4
16.9
9.2
24.3
2.5
2.0
1.9
2.3
3.9
3.3
2.0

102,648
1,089
101,559
504
7,126
16,130
10,049
6,081
18,343
3,878
14,466
4,942
4,081
861
3,297
781
333
489
1,414
8,360
6,246
4,079
2,167
2,114
10,588
6,146

8,452
17
8,435
46
1,139
2,173
1,411
762
1,130
197
933
1,294
1,051
243
448
58
40
45
296
176
98
63
35
77
243
88

8.2
1.6
8.3
9.1
16.0
13.5
14.0
12.5
6.2
5.1
6.4
26.2
25.8
28.2
13.6
7.4
12.0
9.2
21.0
2.1
1.6
1.5
1.6
3.7
2.3
1.4

9,264
23
9,241
53
1,188
2,314
1,497
817
1,210
213
997
1,350
1,094
256
481
60
46
48
316
237
142
96
47
95
312
125

9.0
2.1
9.1
10.5
16.7
14.3
14.9
13.4
6.6
5.5
6.9
27.3
26.8
29.8
14.6
7.7
13.8
9.7
22.3
2.8
2.3
2.3
2.1
4.5
2.9
2.0

195
1,372
433
940
313
122
191
107

4.4
8.5
13.7
7.3
3.0
6.4
2.3
7.6

226
1,558
504
1,055
370
137
233
116

5.1
9.7
15.9
8.2
3.6
7.2
2.8
8.3

4,443
16,635
3,062
13,573
10,207
1,764
8,443
1,396

155
1,324
371
953
281
95
187
116

3.5
8.0
12.1
7.0
2.8
5.4
2.2
8.3

187
1,560
452
1,108
333
111
222
126

4.2
9.4
14.8
8.2
3.3
6.3
2.6
9.0

85
200

1.2
3.7

117
236

1.7
4.4

7,046
5,425

70
181

1.0
3.3

96
203

1.4
3.7

INDUSTRY

households........................

4,629

193

4.2

227

4.9

4,645

174

3.8

196

4.2

Public sector...............................
Federal goverment.........................
State government..........................
Local government..........................

19,673
3,318
5,637
10,719

7,346
1,068
1,745
4,533

37.3
32.2
31.0
42.3

8,160
1,236
1,972
4,952

41.5
37.3
35.0
46.2

19,710
3,247
5,636
10,827

7,324
1,004
1,706
4,614

37.2
30.9
30.3
42.6

8,185
1,196
1,929
5,060

41.5
36.8
34.2
46.7

1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no
union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Includes other industries, not shown separately.
NOTE: Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the class of worker status associated with the
introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current Population Survey.
Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Occupations and
industries reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational and industry classification systems derived from the
2000 Standard Occupational Classification system and the 2002 North American Industry Classification System into the Current
Population Survey. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed
workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Table 4.

Median weekly earnings of full-time wage and salary workers by union affiliation, occupation, and industry

2002

Occupation and industry

2003

Total

Members
of
unions(1)

Represented
by
unions(2)

Nonunion

Total

Members
of
unions(1)

Represented
by
unions(2)

Nonunion

$859

$864

$857

$859

$887

$896

$892

$886

922
982

911
955

924
984

922
982

961
1023

985
1102

994
1109

959
1019

797
823

862
858

856
848

790
811

842
845

864
885

873
879

839
833

OCCUPATION

Management, professional, and related
occupations................................
Management, business, and financial
operations occupations.................
Management occupations..............
Business and financial operations
occupations........................
Professional and related occupations....
Computer and mathematical

occupations........................
Architecture and engineering
occupations........................
Life, physical, and social science
occupations........................
Community and social services
occupations........................
Legal occupations...................
Education, training, and library
occupations........................
Arts, design, entertainment, sports,
and media occupations..............
Healthcare practitioner and
technical occupations..............
Service occupations.........................
Healthcare support occupations..........
Protective service occupations..........
Food preparation and serving related
occupations............................
Building and grounds cleaning and
maintenance occupations................
Personal care and service occupations...
Sales and office occupations................
Sales and related occupations...........
Office and administrative support
occupations............................
Natural resources, construction, and
maintenance occupations....................
Farming, fishing, and forestry
occupations............................
Construction and extraction occupations.
Installation, maintenance, and repair
occupations............................
Production, transportation, and material
moving occupations.........................
Production occupations..................
Transportation and material moving
occupations............................

1026

972

959

1033

1049

963

979

1057

1009

995

995

1012

1053

1037

1028

1058

873

916

933

854

891

944

945

876

658
996

822
991

797
960

621
999

686
1051

848
1362

832
1317

650
1032

740

845

832

645

754

864

854

644

740

872

823

732

745

947

933

734

794
396
393
659

846
600
418
818

848
592
419
811

784
372
388
542

816
403
400
630

877
606
452
857

876
596
452
850

801
382
394
510

334

409

402

330

349

415

410

344

378
383
527
592

499
507
625
594

495
510
622
588

360
373
517
593

390
391
545
598

503
532
629
597

498
520
624
601

372
381
530
598

511

629

625

498

523

639

632

510

597

825

817

540

608

851

843

558

340
589

(3)
824

(3)
816

334
523

369
599

(3)
851

(3)
840

365
531

663

842

834

619

673

858

856

622

511
508

659
634

653
628

483
485

519
519

688
670

684
665

493
495

514

692

682

481

520

710

704

490

$591
367
593
786
605

$699
(3)
700
(3)
846

$691
(3)
692
(3)
837

$580
365
583
800
568

$603
397
605
797
615

$717
(3)
718
(3)
884

$713
(3)
713
783
873

$592
396
595
799
580

INDUSTRY
Private sector..............................
Agriculture and related industries........
Nonagricultural industries................
Mining.................................
Construction...........................

Manufacturing..........................
Durable goods......................
Nondurable goods...................
Wholesale and retail trade.............
Wholesale trade....................
Retail trade.......................
Transportation and utilities...........
Transportation and warehousing.....
Utilities..........................
Information(4).........................
Publishing, except Internet........
Motion pictures and sound recording
Broadcasting, except Internet......
Telecommunications.................
Financial activities...................
Finance and insurance..............
Finance........................
Insurance......................
Real estate and rental and leasing.
Professional and business services.....
Professional and technical services
Management, administrative, and
waste services....................
Education and health services..........
Educational services...............
Health care and social assistance..
Leisure and hospitality................
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Accommodation and food services....
Accommodation..................
Food services and drinking
places........................
Other services(4)......................
Other services, except private
households........................

622
647
587
511
619
483
682
642
849
764
694
749
692
836
667
702
715
681
592
696
881

654
673
613
558
622
530
809
791
896
832
738
(3)
(3)
834
634
667
(3)
(3)
607
654
880

652
672
611
549
627
521
807
788
898
826
726
(3)
(3)
830
622
661
666
(3)
595
653
863

617
641
581
509
618
480
630
602
818
750
691
725
681
839
668
703
716
682
592
698
882

637
668
597
533
670
497
704
668
899
776
690
704
724
857
691
728
726
731
604
692
885

689
714
635
590
694
562
817
782
965
868
740
(3)
(3)
877
618
607
614
(3)
642
699
897

689
712
637
586
689
554
816
780
979
862
747
(3)
(3)
875
625
623
640
(3)
630
691
911

626
655
590
528
668
494
653
620
857
758
684
669
703
848
694
732
730
734
603
692
884

468
582
683
554
392
499
371
411

558
666
767
602
487
588
434
459

556
665
748
606
483
564
433
469

462
572
662
547
387
492
368
405

486
598
681
582
400
492
385
435

640
670
756
627
497
546
478
485

617
684
760
639
485
529
470
482

482
590
659
577
395
489
381
423

358
498

397
688

390
654

357
491

371
515

467
726

456
709

369
510

520

702

664

514

544

730

720

533

Public sector...............................
Federal goverment.........................
State government..........................
Local government..........................

705
792
676
684

769
779
737
781

766
786
735
773

637
804
633
595

728
818
702
709

801
809
764
814

795
816
759
803

656
821
652
606

1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no
union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
3 Data not shown where base is less than 50,000.
4 Includes other industries, not shown separately.

NOTE: Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the class of worker status associated with the
introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current Population Survey.
Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Occupations and
industries reflect the introduction of the 2002 Census occupational and industry classification systems derived from the
2000 Standard Occupational Classification system and the 2002 North American Industry Classification System into the Current
Population Survey. Data refer to the sole or principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed
workers regardless of whether or not their businesses are incorporated.

Table 5. Union affiliation of employed wage and salary workers by state
(Numbers in thousands)

2002

Members of
unions(1)
State

Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

2003

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

Members of
unions(1)
Total
employed
Total

Percent
of
employed

Represented
by unions(2)

Total

Percent
of
employed

Alabama...................................
Alaska....................................
Arizona...................................
Arkansas..................................
California................................
Colorado..................................
Connecticut...............................
Delaware..................................
District of Columbia......................
Florida...................................

1,758
261
2,183
1,062
13,955
1,996
1,534
369
260
6,680

160
64
121
63
2,444
157
258
40
36
383

9.1
24.4
5.5
5.9
17.5
7.9
16.8
10.9
13.9
5.7

186
70
144
72
2,619
180
271
44
46
503

10.6
26.9
6.6
6.7
18.8
9.0
17.7
11.8
17.8
7.5

1,822
265
2,191
1,035
14,350
2,007
1,489
366
268
6,652

147
59
113
50
2,414
156
229
42
39
407

8.1
22.3
5.2
4.8
16.8
7.8
15.4
11.4
14.6
6.1

172
65
140
61
2,647
180
244
46
46
557

9.5
24.6
6.4
5.9
18.4
9.0
16.4
12.5
17.2
8.4

Georgia...................................
Hawaii....................................
Idaho.....................................
Illinois..................................
Indiana...................................
Iowa......................................

3,630
490
543
5,445
2,814
1,389

219
120
38
1,069
376
154

6.0
24.5
6.9
19.6
13.4
11.1

255
124
47
1,119
408
190

7.0
25.3
8.7
20.6
14.5
13.7

3,703
511
548
5,399
2,768
1,365

249
122
39
967
327
157

6.7
23.8
7.0
17.9
11.8
11.5

298
127
47
1,003
352
196

8.0
24.8
8.6
18.6
12.7
14.4

Kansas....................................
Kentucky..................................
Louisiana.................................
Maine.....................................

1,216
1,639
1,650
581

100
165
138
75

8.2
10.1
8.4
13.0

120
185
170
87

9.9
11.3
10.3
15.0

1,204
1,681
1,685
567

96
175
109
73

7.9
10.4
6.5
12.8

124
216
132
81

10.3
12.8
7.9
14.3

Maryland..................................
Massachusetts.............................
Michigan..................................
Minnesota.................................
Mississippi...............................
Missouri..................................
Montana...................................
Nebraska..................................
Nevada....................................
New Hampshire.............................

2,460
2,999
4,335
2,500
1,049
2,508
361
790
970
613

354
427
911
440
70
332
51
64
148
60

14.4
14.2
21.0
17.6
6.7
13.2
14.2
8.1
15.3
9.8

411
464
947
458
86
366
56
89
162
68

16.7
15.5
21.8
18.3
8.2
14.6
15.5
11.2
16.7
11.2

2,481
2,925
4,188
2,435
1,117
2,546
360
819
943
607

354
416
919
414
55
336
50
64
136
56

14.3
14.2
21.9
17.0
5.0
13.2
14.0
7.9
14.4
9.3

410
454
968
441
73
363
54
87
149
69

16.5
15.5
23.1
18.1
6.6
14.2
14.9
10.6
15.8
11.3

New Jersey................................
New Mexico................................
New York..................................
North Carolina............................
North Dakota..............................
Ohio......................................
Oklahoma..................................
Oregon....................................
Pennsylvania..............................
Rhode Island..............................

3,872
720
7,828
3,424
291
5,118
1,420
1,457
5,452
471

757
49
1,981
116
24
859
128
226
851
81

19.6
6.8
25.3
3.4
8.2
16.8
9.0
15.5
15.6
17.3

797
61
2,071
138
28
916
151
239
906
84

20.6
8.5
26.5
4.0
9.8
17.9
10.6
16.4
16.6
17.9

3,777
741
7,874
3,576
284
5,100
1,406
1,466
5,261
494

737
57
1,936
111
21
850
96
230
794
84

19.5
7.6
24.6
3.1
7.3
16.7
6.8
15.7
15.1
17.0

801
70
2,017
135
26
923
111
240
847
86

21.2
9.5
25.6
3.8
9.0
18.1
7.9
16.4
16.1
17.5

South Carolina............................
South Dakota..............................
Tennessee.................................
Texas.....................................
Utah......................................
Vermont...................................
Virginia..................................
Washington................................
West Virginia.............................
Wisconsin.................................
Wyoming...................................

1,646
349
2,465
8,802
971
289
3,205
2,548
692
2,549
219

80
19
223
452
61
28
194
472
92
397
17

4.9
5.6
9.1
5.1
6.3
9.6
6.0
18.5
13.3
15.6
7.8

100
24
258
570
73
32
251
510
97
418
22

6.1
6.9
10.5
6.5
7.6
11.1
7.8
20.0
14.1
16.4
9.9

1,689
353
2,384
9,072
1,015
281
3,243
2,539
671
2,613
224

71
19
179
508
53
27
210
502
88
414
18

4.2
5.4
7.5
5.6
5.2
9.7
6.5
19.7
13.1
15.9
8.0

90
23
218
621
69
33
251
531
95
438
22

5.3
6.4
9.2
6.8
6.8
11.7
7.7
20.9
14.2
16.8
9.8

1 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union.
2 Data refer to members of a labor union or an employee association similar to a union as well as workers who report no
union affiliation but whose jobs are covered by a union or an employee association contract.
NOTE: Data for 2002 have been revised to incorporate changes to the class of worker status associated with the
introduction of the 2002 Census industry and occupational classification systems into the Current Population Survey.
Beginning in January 2003, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey. Data refer to the sole or
principal job of full- and part-time workers. Excluded are all self-employed workers regardless of whether or not their

businesses are incorporated.