Unionstats.com
Union Membership and Coverage Database from the CPS
The
Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com,
is an Internet data resource providing private and public sector labor union membership,
coverage, and density estimates compiled from the monthly household Current Population Survey
(CPS) using BLS methods. Economy-wide estimates are provided beginning
in 1973; estimates by state, detailed industry, and detailed occupation begin
in 1983; and estimates by metropolitan area begin in 1986. The Database, constructed
by Barry Hirsch (Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University) and
David Macpherson (Department
of Economics, Trinity University), was created in 2002 and is updated annually.
To access union data tables, click on links in the left-side index
Use of figures from the Database requires citation.
A
description of the Database is provided in the paper
below, available in pdf.
Barry T. Hirsch and
David A. Macpherson, "Union Membership and
Coverage Database from the Current Population Survey: Note," Industrial
and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 2003, pp. 349-54
(updated annually at unionstats.com). (pdf)
Union data compilations from the 2017 CPS posted January 21, 2018
Union data compilations from the 2016 CPS posted February 11, 2017
CPS metro table for 2015 covers Aug 2015-July 2016, initially posted 8/26/2016, revision posted 2/11/2017. Click here for info
Union data compilations from the 2015 CPS posted January 31, 2016
Note: CPS sample sizes (denoted by "Obs") are very small for some cells. Use
such union estimates cautiously.
CPS Documentation
Files and Links:
Equivalence/differences in UnionStats.com and BLS estimates of union membership and density
CPS Metropolitan Area Classifications (August 2015 to present) note for 2015
CPS Metropolitan Area Classifications (May 2004 to 2014) note for 2014
CPS Metropolitan Area
Classifications (September 1995 to April 2004)
CPS Metropolitan Area
Classifications (October 1985 to May 1995)
CPS Industry Classifications (2009 to present) minor changes from 2003-08 codes
CPS Industry Classifications (2003-2008)
CPS Industry Classifications
(1992-2002)
CPS Industry Classifications (1983-91)
CPS Occupation Classifications (beginning 2011)
CPS Occupation Classifications (2003-2010)
CPS Occupation
Classifications (1992-2002)
CPS Occupation Classifications (1983-91)
Summary of 1980/90 Ind/Occ Changes; Program to Create Time-Consistent Ind/Occ Codes
Pareto Estimates of Mean Earnings Above CPS Weekly Earnings Top-Code Caps
Additional Labor
Union Databases:
State Union Density in the U.S., 1964-2017 (Hirsch, Macpherson, Vroman, Monthly Labor Review article, union % of total non-ag employment)
Data Appendix (Excel file) that accompanies Hirsch article in Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2008
Graphics from Colin Gordon (University of Iowa) using data from UnionStats:
Right to Work By the Numbers (2016), includes graphics and discussion of RTW
Mappings of Union Membership and Density (2013), 3-yr moving averages of national & state data;
Metropolitan area figures showing employment, union membership, and density (2013)
Labor Union Data from Bloomberg BNA:
Other Union Data and Databases from Bloomberg BNA
Author home pages and e-mail:
Barry Hirsch home page Hirsch e-mail
David Macpherson home page Macpherson e-mail
© 2002, 2018 by Barry T. Hirsch and David A. Macpherson. Use of data requires citation.