Studies show that states in which more people are union members are states with higher wages, better benefits and better schools. While unions are just one of the factors that affect the quality of living, the pattern indicates that when workers have a voice, everyone in the community benefits—not just union members.
Ten states with strongest unions(based on percentage of the workforce with a union) are Hawaii, New York, Alaska, New Jersey, Washington State, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, California and Connecticut.
Ten states with weakest unions (based on percentage of the workforce with a union) are North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Utah, Mississippi and South Dakota.
Ten States Where Unions Are Strongest
Ten States Where Unions Are Weakest
Average Hourly Manufacturing Earnings, 2005 (1)
$17.01
$14.39
Median Household Income, 2005 (2)
$53,380
$43,204
Percent of Population With No Medical Insurance, 2005 (3)
13.4%
17.5%
Workplace Fatalities Per 100,000 Employees, 2004 (4)
4.0
5.2
Public Education Spending Per Pupil, 2005-2006 (5)
$10,507
$7,580
Percent of Eligible Voters Who Voted in Presidential Election, 2004 (6)
60.8%
55.0%
Crimes Per 100,000 Population, 2004 (7)
3,715
4,168
Percent of Population in Poverty, 2005 (8)
10.4%
13.4%
Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
U.S. Census Bureau
U.S. Census Bureau
BLS, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2004
National Education Association, Rankings and Estimates—Rankings of the States 2005 and Estimates of School Statistics, 2006, November 2006.
