The Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal report that US labor union membership increased by 411,000 in 2025, with most gains concentrated in states with collective bargaining protections. In those states, there are nearly 10.9 million union members out of a total workforce of 76.9 million, compared to just over 3.7 million members in "right-to-work" states. The report highlights the impact of "right-to-work" laws on union membership, allowing workers to opt-out of paying union dues without contributing to collective bargaining efforts. The increase in union membership coincides with high public approval ratings of labor unions, with a Gallup poll showing 71% of Americans approve of labor unions.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
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Story summary
In 2025, US labor unions saw an increase of 411,000 members, the largest gain since 2008, according to a new report. The report, released by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, found that most of these gains were concentrated in states with collective bargaining protections. In contrast, states with "right-to-work" laws saw significantly lower increases, with a total gain of 107,000 members. The data suggests that states with collective bargaining protections have 10.9 million union members out of 76.9 million workers, while those with "right-to-work" laws have 3.7 million members out of 69.7 million workers**. The report's findings highlight the impact of "right-to-work" laws, which allow workers to avoid paying union membership dues while still benefiting from collectively bargained contracts. This trend is significant because it shows that even as union membership has been declining in some areas, there are still gains to be made when collective bargaining protections are in place.
Written for “US Labor Union Membership Gains” on 2026-09-07,
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After years of decline, union membership in the US increased by 411,000 members in 2025, the largest increase since 2008, according to a new report.
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membership → increase → report
The report makes clear the impact that “right to work” laws can have on union membership: most gains were concentrated in states that protect collective bargaining.
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that → make → bargaining
Union membership rates in those states were nearly triple than the 26 states with so-called “right-to-work” laws that weaken union membership, according to the report from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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that → call → Champaign
States with collective bargaining protections saw an increase of nearly 305,000 union members in 2025, compared to about 107,000 in “right-to-work” states.
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States → see → states
States with protections have over 10.9 million members out of 76.9 million workers, compared to “right-to-work” states that have 3.7 million members out of 69.7 million workers.
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that → have → workers
“Right-to-work” laws allow workers to “free ride”, or work under a collectively bargained contract agreement without paying union membership dues.
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workers → allow → dues
Most right-to-work legislation was passed in the 1940s and 1950s after a movement from conservative activist Vance Muse, who coined the term and championed it in southern states with arguments to preserve Jim Crow-era laws.
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who → pass → laws
“The data consistently shows that workers earn higher wages when they are union members and work in states that protect collective bargaining rights,” said Frank Manzo IV, economist at the ILEPI and coauthor of the report.
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IV → show → report
“More Americans are turning to unions as a bulwark against the rising cost of living..”
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Americans → turn → living
In 2025, 19 US states passed 88 laws that expanded workers’ rights, according to a 3 September issue brief by State Futures and NYU Wagner Labor Initiative.
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that → pass → Futures
Legislation included paid sick leave and medical leave passed in Virginia, warehouse worker protections passed in Connecticut and banning nearly all non-compete agreements in Washington.
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Legislation → include → Washington
Earlier reports had shown that 2025 was a big year for unions: 16.5 million workers were represented by unions in 2025, the highest level recorded in 16 years, accounting for 11.2% of all wage and salary workers in the US.
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workers → show → US
Union density, or the percentage of workers in a union, increased from 9.9% to 10.0% nationally in 2025.
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density → increase → 2025
The uptick in union membership coincides with high public approval ratings of unions.
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uptick → coincide → unions
According to a recently released Gallup poll, 71% of Americans approve of labor unions and 47% want unions to have more influence.
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unions → accord → influence
Ahead of Labor Day, the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labor unions in the US, released poll results that found 52% of the American public said they trust labor unions, compared to 32% who said they trust Democratic party and 26% who trust the Republican party.
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who → release → party
The poll also found young workers trust unions at higher rates, with 57% of young workers who are not in a union stating that they would join one if it were an option.
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it → find → one
“This Labor Day, shit’s too expensive,” said Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, during an address last week ahead of Labor Day.
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Shuler → ’ → Day
“That’s what 94% of workers told us, in our new poll.
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% → ’ → poll
Four out of five say: paychecks aren’t keeping up with the cost of living – groceries, rent, childcare, gas.
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paychecks → say → living
This is happening, by the way, in a country where CEOs now make an average of 312 times what the median worker makes.
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worker → happen → makes
CEOs got a 21% raise in one year – who else gets that?”
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who → get → that
Researchers of the new report found that labor unions raise average wages by 8% nationally and workers in states that protect collective bargaining rights earn 8% more, after accounting for cost of living differences, than those in states with restrictions.
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that → find → restrictions
Workers in these states also experienced 3% slower wage growth from 2019 to 2025.
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Workers → experience → 2025
This wage gap between workers in states with protections versus those without has more than doubled over the past decade, from 3.2% in 2015 to 6.7% in 2025, translating to over $4,000 less per year for the median full-time worker.
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gap → double → worker
“By raising the wage floor, collective bargaining benefits union and non-union workers alike,” said Robert Bruno, professor at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal.
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Bruno → raise → Renewal
“The data makes clear that a rising tide lifts all boats.”
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lifts → make → boats
