When Do U.S. Workers First Experience Unionization? Implications for Revitalizing the Labor Movement

Abstract

Debates over revitalizing the U.S. labor movement often overlook when workers are first unionized. This paper tracks a cohort of individuals from age 15/16 to 40/41 to analyze the frequency and nature of workers' first unionized jobs. It is well-established that workers are most likely to be unionized when they are in their forties, but this paper shows that individuals first encounter unionization in their jobs at a much younger age and at a surprising rate. These results highlight the importance of life-cycle union representation strategies that recognize the young age at which many workers are first unionized.

Keywords: union membership

JEL Classification: J50