New data released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that labor union ranks are shrinking in number, falling by another 326,000 workers in 2006. Thus, the percentage of union workers in the workforce has dropped from 12.5% to 12.0%. The private sector lost a greater percentage of unionization than did the public, falling from 7.4% to 7.0% of the workforce while the public sector went from 36.5% to 36.2%.
Union density declined in 31 states since 2005 and only four states—New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and Arkansas have union density levels above 20%.
The economy is booming and people are dropping out of unions in drove. Coincidence?
Probably, but I like to think there’s a connection.