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Union Membership in Washington
18.0% of employed wage and salary workers in Washington were union members in 2025, compared with 10.0% nationally.
- Union members
- 18.0%
- 2025
- Covered by a union contract
- 19.4%
- Number of members
- 632,000
- Wage and salary workers
- 3.51 million
Union membership rate by year
Compared with the U.S.
Show as a table
| Period | Washington |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 18.0% |
| 2024 | 16.0% |
| 2023 | 16.5% |
| 2022 | 18.0% |
| 2021 | 19.0% |
| 2020 | 17.4% |
| 2019 | 18.8% |
| 2018 | 19.8% |
| 2017 | 18.8% |
| 2016 | 17.4% |
| 2015 | 16.8% |
| 2014 | 16.8% |
| 2013 | 18.9% |
| 2012 | 18.5% |
| 2011 | 19.0% |
By year
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Year | Members | Represented | Union members |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18.0% | 19.4% | 632,000 |
| 2024 | 16.0% | 18.3% | 548,000 |
| 2023 | 16.5% | 18.1% | 576,000 |
| 2022 | 18.0% | 19.1% | 615,000 |
| 2021 | 19.0% | 20.0% | 629,000 |
| 2020 | 17.4% | 18.6% | 557,000 |
| 2019 | 18.8% | 20.2% | 638,000 |
| 2018 | 19.8% | 20.5% | 649,000 |
| 2017 | 18.8% | 20.2% | 584,000 |
| 2016 | 17.4% | 18.7% | 539,000 |
| 2015 | 16.8% | 18.0% | 500,000 |
| 2014 | 16.8% | 18.4% | 491,000 |
| 2013 | 18.9% | 19.7% | 546,000 |
| 2012 | 18.5% | 19.5% | 513,000 |
| 2011 | 19.0% | 20.4% | 517,000 |
| 2010 | 19.4% | 21.3% | 552,000 |
| 2009 | 20.2% | 21.5% | 574,000 |
| 2008 | 19.8% | 21.5% | 578,000 |
| 2007 | 20.2% | 21.4% | 579,000 |
| 2006 | 19.8% | 21.0% | 549,000 |
| 2005 | 19.1% | 20.4% | 523,000 |
| 2004 | 19.3% | 20.3% | 510,000 |
| 2003 | 19.7% | 20.9% | 502,000 |
| 2002 | 18.5% | 20.0% | 472,000 |
| 2001 | 17.9% | 19.3% | 446,000 |
| 2000 | 17.9% | 19.8% | 462,000 |
Frequently asked questions
- What percent of workers in Washington are in a union?
- 18.0% of employed wage and salary workers in Washington were union members in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.