Theguardian iconTheguardianSep 7, 2026

US labor unions saw membership gains in 2025, mostly in states with bargaining protections

The report makes clear the impact that "right to work" laws can have on union membership: most gains were concentrated in states that protect collective bargaining.

US labor unions saw membership gains in 2025, mostly in states with bargaining protections

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

The report makes clear the impact that "right to work" laws can have on union membership: most gains were concentrated in states that protect collective bargaining.

Uptick in US union membership coincides with high public approval ratings of unions After years of decline, union membership in the US increased by 411,000 members in 2025, the largest increase since 2008,...

Building the complete brief

The page is ready to read now. The fuller skim-friendly version will appear here automatically.

The useful part

The report makes clear the impact that "right to work" laws can have on union membership: most gains were concentrated in states that protect collective bargaining. Uptick in US union membership coincides with high public approval ratings of unions After years of decline, union membership in the US increased by 411,000 members in 2025, the largest increase since 2008, according to a new report.

Details worth keeping

Uptick in US union membership coincides with high public approval ratings of unions After years of decline, union membership in the US increased by 411,000 members in 2025, the largest increase since 2008, according to a new report.

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app