Selected Characteristics of Union Workers, 1997–1999

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff
Percent of employed population
that are members of unions1
Percent of employed population
that are represented by unions2
1999 1998 1997 1999 1998 1997
Sex and age
Total, 16 years and over 13.9% 13.9% 14.1 % 15.3 % 15.4% 15.6 %
16 to 24 years 5.7 5.3 5.2 6.3 6.0 6.1
25 years and over 15.5 15.6 15.8 17.1 17.2 17.5
Men, 16 years and over 16.1 16.2 16.3 17.4 17.4 17.7
16 to 24 years 7.1 6.4 6.3 7.7 7.2 7.1
25 years and over 17.8 18.0 18.2 19.3 19.4 19.8
Women, 16 years and over 11.4 11.4 11.6 13.0 13.1 13.4
16 to 24 years 4.1 4.1 4.0 4.8 4.7 5.0
25 years and over 12.9 12.9 13.1 14.6 14.7 15.0
Race, Hispanic origin, and sex 3
White 13.5% 13.5% 13.6% 14.8% 14.8% 15.1%
Men 15.7 15.8 16.0 16.9 17.0 17.4
Women 10.9 10.8 10.9 12.4 12.4 12.6
Black 17.2 17.7 17.9 19.2 19.7 20.1
Men 20.5 20.7 20.2 22.2 22.6 22.2
Women 14.4 15.1 16.0 16.7 17.2 18.3
Hispanic origin 11.9 11.9 11.8 13.1 13.2 13.5
Men 13.0 12.7 12.6 14.1 13.8 14.3
Women 10.4 10.6 10.6 11.8 12.3 12.2
Full- or part-time status 4
Full-time workers 15.3% 15.5% 15.6% 16.9% 17.1% 17.3%
Part-time workers 6.9 6.5 7.0 7.8 7.5 8.0
NOTE: 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. Detail for the above race and Hispanic-origin groups will not sum to totals because data for the “other races” group are not presented and Hispanics are included in both the white and black population groups. Beginning in January 1999, data reflect revised population controls used in the household survey.
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. 16 years and over.
4. The distinction between full- and part-time workers is based on hours usually worked.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web: www.bls.gov/news.release/union2.t01.htm .

Union Membership, by States Labor Unions Selected Characteristics of Union Workers
Labor Union Statistics
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