Union Elections Increased by 53% in 2022

On Jan. 19, 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2022 annual report. The results show that union membership grew by 273,000 last year and the number of union elections held increased by 53% from 2021 to 2022.

However, there was a slight drop in union density because non-union jobs were added at a faster rate. Union density numbers fluctuate slightly from year to year based on overall employment numbers, but there’s no denying the resurgence in organizing and the desire workers have to join a union.

The report also notes an increase in the diversity of union members and those fighting to organize their workplaces. Last year, more than 300,000 workers of color joined a union. Despite the odds, the future of labor looks bright.

Read more about the BLS’s findings here.