New Data Shows Public Sector Union Membership Increased in 2025

New data shows that union membership increased in 2025, including among federal government workers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently released 2025 figures on union membership, revealing that 16.5 million U.S. workers were represented by a union last year. This accounts for an increase of 463,000 from 2024, and represents “the highest number of unionized workers in the U.S. in 16 years,” according to an Economic Policy Institute (EPI) analysis.

Last year saw unionization increasing in both the private and public sectors, with union membership among federal workers rising from 29.9% to 31.1%, “the largest single-year increase since 2011,” according to EPI. This jump represented a gain of 40,000 unionized workers.

EPI’s assessment of the recently shared BLS data revealed a number of other trends. For example, public sector unionization grew, but at a lower rate than in the public sector. Private sector union coverage increased by 227,000 in 2025. The public sector gained 236,000 unionized workers, with union density increasing from 35.7% to 36.4%, according to EPI.

Unionization increased among people of color at higher rates than among white non-Hispanic workers in 2025. For example, unionization among people of color overall rose by 289,000, compared to an increase of 174,000 among white non-Hispanic workers.

Younger workers (under age 45) helped to drive the overall spike in union membership last year as well. Union coverage in this age group went up by 428,000, compared to an increase of 35,000 among workers age 45 and up.

“Unionization grew in 2025 despite the nation’s broken system of labor law and the most anti-union president in history. And in response to the Trump administration’s aggressive attacks on federal employees and their unions, federal workers increasingly turned to collective representation,” said Heidi Shierholz, EPI president, in a statement.

“This increase is a testament to working people’s resolve and the fact that unions are recognized as critical instruments for building a fair economy.”