Union representation across occupations in the construction industry modestly declined in 2019, from 13.8 percent to 13.6 percent of workers employed, according to an annual release recently issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”). Union membership in the industry also modestly declined, from 12.8 percent to 12.6 percent, but remains considerably higher than the all-industry average in the private sector, which declined from 6.4 percent to 6.2 percent over the year. Construction union representation and membership decreased by a larger margin in 2018 but increased slightly in both 2017 and 2016. The total number of workers in construction (regardless of union affiliation) rose in each of those years. In 2019, the number rose from 8,169,000 to 8,352,000.
Interestingly, union representation and membership rose among workers in construction and extraction occupations across industries in 2019. BLS reports that union representation increased from 18.0 percent to 18.5 percent over the year, and membership increased from 17.1 percent to 17.4 percent. The total number of workers in such occupations increased from 6,776,000 to 6,859,000.
The release also covers earnings. BLS reports that the median weekly earnings of all workers in the construction industry rose from $868 to $909 in 2019. Union-represented workers continued to earn substantially more than their nonunion counterparts, with median weekly earnings of $1,240 in 2019 as compared to $868 for nonunion workers. It is worth noting, however, that earnings of nonunion workers increased by a higher percentage in 2019 (about 6 percent) than those of union-represented workers (about 2.5 percent) according to BLS data.
The median weekly earnings of workers in construction and extraction occupations across industries rose from $808 to $866 in 2019, with union-represented workers earning $1,183 and nonunion workers earning $801 per week.
When assessing BLS industry data, note that the data cover surveyed employees at all levels and classifications, including personnel who are not typically organized, such as office staff. Note also that the data cover all sectors of the industry, including single-family home builders and home improvement firms.
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