The Trend Continues

Americans’ Approval of Labor Unions Continues at 21st Century High

For the sixth straight year, Gallup’s annual Labor Day poll found Americans’ approval of labor unions continues to remain at a 21st century high. According to the polling organization, 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, tying the recent high recorded in 2022. Approval has remained between 67% and 71% for six consecutive years.

Gallup has tracked union approval for 90 years, and the figure has only been higher in the 1950s when it reached 73% to 75% during a four-year stretch.

Moreover, the figure from the poll that has grabbed the headlines was an eye-popping 47% who say unions should have more influence than they do today, roughly double the 23% who say they want them to have less. That trend line has risen steadily since 2016 when the figure was just 36%. 

Dan McConnell, President of the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council, says Gallup’s survey says the quiet part out loud – when workers have a strong voice on the job, our families, communities and economy are stronger. 

But to have that voice, it falls on unions to continue to get the word out. “That means organizing more workers, protecting the right to collectively bargain, expanding apprenticeship and pathways into good union careers, and making sure the economic growth happening in Minnesota creates family-sustaining union jobs,” McConnell said. 

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