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Union Density

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Visuals in this post: Labor's Share of the Budget Growth by Spending Line Raises vs. the Reserve Overtime Pension Contributions Union Density
data.nycuriosity.com › Public Sector Unions 2026 › Union Density
Budget September 2026

Two in three public workers in NYC are in a union, against one in seven private workers

Public sector union density in New York City is 65.1%, nearly double the national rate of 32.7%. Private sector density in the city is 14.3%. One in five workers in the five boroughs belongs to a union.

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Public sector union density in New York City is nearly double the national rate

Share of wage and salary workers who are union members, by sector, 2025-26. The period covers January 2025 through June 2026.

  • Public sector
  • Private sector
New York City
Public sector
65.1%
Private sector
14.3%
New York State
Public sector
63.2%
Private sector
12.5%
United States
Public sector
32.7%
Private sector
6.0%
Source: Ruth Milkman and Joseph van der Naald, The State of the Unions 2026, CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies Note: Based on the U.S. Current Population Survey. October 2025 is excluded from the survey data.

Sources: CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, The State of the Unions 2026.