Survey shows Nevada union membership numbers flat
New numbers show stagnant union membership in Nevada.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says 14.7 percent, or 162,000, of the Silver State's workers belonged to unions in 2012. Workers covered by union contracts totaled 16.4 percent, or 181,000 people.
In 2011, 14.6 percent of working Nevadans were union members, while 16.6 percent were represented by unions.
Those numbers have held steady since before the recession. In 2006, 14.8 percent of the state's workforce was in a union, and labor groups represented 17 percent of the state's population.
Nevada ranked No. 10 in the nation for its share of workers in unions. Western states with higher proportions of union members were Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
Nationally, 11.3 percent of workers belonged to a union in 2012. That was down from 11.8 percent in 2011. At 23.2 percent, New York had the highest rate of union membership. North Carolina posted the lowest membership levels, at 2.9 percent.
Among public-sector employees, 35.9 percent were in unions. That was more than five times higher than the 6.6 percent of union members in the private sector.
Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512. Follow @J_Robison1 on Twitter.
