Number of union members grew by 23,000 in Minnesota in past year

WASHINGTON — The number of union members in Minnesota grew by 23,000 people from 2023 to 2024, according to an annual report tracking union membership released January 28 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s rate of union membership among people employed ticked-up slightly from 13.3 percent to 14.2 percent —putting Minnesota 11th highest in the U.S.

Nationally, the reported rate of union membership — 9.9 percent — was “little changed” from 2023, BLS reported.

BLS also noted, “the union membership rate of public-sector workers (32.3 percent) continued to be more than five times than the rate of private-sector workers (5.9 percent).”

BLS reported union workers had median weekly earnings that were 17.5 percent higher than non-union workers ($1,337 compared to $1,138).