There were 682,000 union members in New Jersey in 2024, representing 16.2% of the state's workforce, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This marks a slight increase from 2023 when there were 679,000 union members, accounting for 16.1% of the workforce.
Nationally, the union membership rate stood at 9.9%, showing little change from the previous year. Despite this stability, it reflects a significant decline from 1983 when the nationwide union membership rate was at 20.1%.
Hawaii had the highest union membership rate at 26.5%, followed by New York with 20.6%, Alaska with 17.7%, Connecticut with 16.5%, and New Jersey with its aforementioned rate of 16.2%. On the other end of the spectrum, North Carolina had the lowest rate at 2.4%, followed by South Dakota at 2.7% and South Carolina at 2.8%. Arkansas recorded a rate of 3.5%, while Utah and Arizona both reported rates of 3.7%.
In terms of numbers, public sector employees belonging to unions totaled around seven million in comparison to approximately seven point two million in the private sector in 2024.
The private-sector saw a decrease of about 184,000 union members during this period, resulting in a decline in its union membership rate by one-tenth of a percentage point to reach a level of five point nine percent. Industries such as utilities (18.7%), transportation and warehousing (15.8%), and educational services (13.2%) exhibited high unionization rates.
Conversely, sectors like finance (0.8%), insurance (1.2%), professional and technical services (1.2%), agriculture (1.4%), and food services and drinking establishments (1.6%) experienced lower levels of unionization within the private sector.
The public-sector's union membership rate remained relatively stable at thirty-two point two percent over the year with local government maintaining its position as having one of highest rates due largely because many workers employed there are involved heavily-unionized occupations such police officers firefighters teachers among others reaching thirty-eight point two percent overall
When analyzed by age group those aged forty-five fifty-four held highest percentage twelve six younger counterparts between sixteen twenty-four lowest four three
Full-time wage salary earners who were part unions earned median weekly pay $1337 compared nonunion colleagues whose median usual earnings amounted $1138 during same timeframe
For representation purposes BLS indicated that number people either paying dues or covered under contracts but not affiliated directly stood unchanged around sixteen million workers throughout last year
