The union membership rate--the percent of all workers who were members of unions—for the construction industry was 10.7 percent in 2023, a full percentage point lower than last year when it was 11.7 percent according to an annual report released January 23, 2024, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Union representation in the industry also declined, from 12.4 to 11.4 in 2023. Still, union membership in construction remains considerably higher than the 6.0 percent rate across industries in the private sector. Union membership in the U.S., both in general and in the construction industry, fell to the lowest rates on record.
The report also provides information on union affiliation by state, earnings by union affiliation, and other union-related data.
When considering BLS industry data, note that the data cover surveyed employees at all levels and classifications, including personnel who are not typically organized, such as office staff. Note also that the data cover all sectors of the industry, including single-family home builders and home improvement firms. Accordingly, the data may be better relied upon for portrayal of trends over time than for providing accurate data on union affiliation in commercial construction at a specific time.