The Trump administration’s abrupt and legally questionable dismissal of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) member in January 2025 effectively paralyzed the agency, preventing it from issuing decisions on unfair labor practices and other crucial aspects of labor law enforcement. This occurred against a backdrop of declining union membership, dropping from 10% to 9.9% of the workforce in 2024, signaling a weakening of union power despite growing public support for organized labor. This public support is possibly fueled by increasing skepticism towards corporations and sympathy for workers facing challenges like underpayment, unstable schedules, and harassment. The weakening of the NLRB further exacerbates the challenges facing unions.
The decline in union density varied across sectors. While union membership remained strongest in education (32.3%) and relatively high in extraction and construction (15.4%), the rapidly expanding healthcare and social assistance sector saw only a modest 6.8% unionization rate. The only sector experiencing growth in union membership in 2024 was food and preparation, rising from 3.6% to 4.5%, despite these jobs being among the lowest paid. While age demographics played a role in the overall decline, with younger workers (16-34) experiencing a larger drop than older workers (65+), there are potential underlying shifts in intergenerational attitudes towards unions that warrant further investigation. Understanding these localized nuances is crucial for predicting future unionization trends.
A 2025 study by the University of California, Santa Cruz, focused on young workers in Santa Cruz County, revealed significant “union curiosity.” 44% of young workers expressed willingness to join a union if given the chance, with 37% identifying as “union-curious” and only 19% opposed. This interest was particularly pronounced in sectors with traditionally high union density, like education (48% interested) and transportation (47% interested). Even in the tourism industry, which typically has lower unionization rates, 36% of young workers expressed interest in joining a union. The researchers attributed this enthusiasm to the specific socio-economic conditions of Santa Cruz County, marked by significant wealth disparity and a large concentration of university and agricultural employees.
The Santa Cruz study suggests that younger workers, while potentially unaware of the full range of union benefits, are increasingly receptive to the idea of organized labor. These benefits extend beyond higher wages and include greater job security, improved pension and healthcare plans, and protections against financial instability. The Center for American Progress highlights the significant wealth disparity between union and non-union households, with union households holding nearly four times the median wealth. Unions also contribute to financial stability by negotiating severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, and protections against predatory financial practices, enabling workers to better weather economic downturns.
This growing pro-union sentiment among young workers is echoed in national surveys. A 2024 Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study found a significant shift in attitudes towards unionization since 1977, with support increasing from 27% to 43% among non-union, non-managerial workers. Concurrently, outright opposition to unions has plummeted from 64% to 19%. The substantial increase in “don’t know” responses (from 8% to 28%) suggests a need for greater education about union benefits and a potential fear of employer retaliation. This ambivalence presents both a challenge and an opportunity for union organizers: educating the undecided while simultaneously addressing concerns about potential repercussions.
Intergenerational differences in union support are also noteworthy. Younger workers (under 30) demonstrate significantly higher support for unionization (40%) compared to older workers (over 30) at 32%. While older workers exhibit slightly higher opposition to unions (30% versus 15% for younger workers), the overall trend indicates a growing national acceptance of organized labor, especially among the younger generation. This rising support is further corroborated by Gallup polls, which show union approval ratings reaching a 60-year high of 70% in 2022, a level not seen since the 1950s. The Trump administration’s actions against the NLRB, however, directly challenge this growing pro-union sentiment and raise the question of whether such anti-labor policies will ultimately backfire, alienating a significant portion of the electorate.
