NJ Union Membership Rate Grew Amid Pandemic – But With Fewer Jobs

NEW JERSEY — The percentage of workers in labor unions grew in New Jersey last year, but there’s a catch, researchers say — it’s likely because of a drop in wage and salary jobs that took place during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released statistics on union membership across the nation, including the Garden State.

New Jersey had about 600,000 union members in 2020, roughly 16.1 percent of all wage and salary workers in the state. The total was up from 15.7 percent in 2019 and 14.9 percent in 2018, the BLS reported.

Previous years include:

• 2017 – 16.2 percent
• 2016 – 16.1 percent
• 2015 – 15.4 percent
• 2014 – 16.5 percent
• 2013 – 16.0 percent
• 2012 – 16.1 percent
• 2011 – 16.1 percent
• 2010 – 17.1 percent

New Jersey’s union membership rate of 16.1 percent was well above the national average, which came out to about 10.8 percent of employed wage and salary workers in 2020.

Among states, Hawaii and New York continued to have the highest union membership rates (23.7 percent and 22 percent, respectively), while South Carolina and North Carolina continued to have the lowest (2.9 percent and 3.1 percent).

While union membership rates rose in New Jersey last year, it’s also important to note that the overall number of wage and salary jobs was down from about 642,000 in 2019 – a 6.5 percent drop.

A BLS spokesperson offered Patch the following caveat about Friday’s numbers:

“Please note that the dynamic that generally is driving the increases in unionization rates relative to 2019 can be explained by the drop in wage and salary employment … Also note that the BLS does not encourage over-the-year change comparisons for the statewide data on union members in light of sample-size limitations and population-control differences ... that’s why we emphasize the rate.”

The BLS added an additional disclaimer about the impact of the COVID-19 crisis:

“Data on union members for 2020 reflect the impact on the labor market of the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to contain it. Comparisons with union membership measures for earlier years, including metrics such as the union membership rate and the median usual weekly earnings of union members, should be interpreted with caution. The overall union membership rate and the rates by many demographic and employment characteristics increased despite declines in the number of union members. These increases reflect the disproportionately large decline in total wage and salary employment (mostly among nonunion workers) compared with the decline in the number of union members. Increases in median weekly earnings reflect the disproportionately large decline in employment in 2020, notably among lower-paid workers, such as those in the leisure and hospitality industry.”

Among full-time wage and salary workers in the United States, union members had median usual weekly earnings of $1,144 in 2020, while those who were not union members had median weekly earnings of $958.

Read the full BLS statement here.

Despite the notes of caution, Friday’s numbers may contain a ray of hope for supporters of organized labor in New Jersey, some of whom have worried about the possible effects of a landmark decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018.

The court’s ruling in Janus v. AFSCME declared public-sector unions and states that collect fees from non-consenting employees are violating the First Amendment. The decision was expected to impact union membership across the nation, including in New Jersey.

• See related article: SCOTUS Ruling Is 'Sad Day' For New Jersey Families, Unions Say

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