The Decline in African-American Representation
In Unions and Manufacturing, 1979-2006
By John Schmitt and Ben Zipperer
Center for Economic and Policy Research
TABLE 1
Share of Workers in Unions, by Race or Ethnicity, 1983-2006 (Percent)
|
|
Black |
White |
Hispanic |
Overall |
|
1979 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
1980 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
1981 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
1982 |
. |
. |
. |
. |
|
1983 |
31.7 |
22.2 |
24.2 |
23.3 |
|
1984 |
29.1 |
20.5 |
22.8 |
21.5 |
|
1985 |
27.3 |
19.5 |
21.3 |
20.4 |
|
1986 |
26.5 |
19.0 |
20.0 |
19.9 |
|
1987 |
25.3 |
18.3 |
19.1 |
19.2 |
|
1988 |
25.9 |
18.1 |
17.7 |
18.9 |
|
1989 |
25.2 |
17.8 |
16.8 |
18.5 |
|
1990 |
24.2 |
17.7 |
16.4 |
18.3 |
|
1991 |
24.1 |
17.4 |
17.6 |
18.2 |
|
1992 |
24.0 |
17.1 |
16.9 |
17.8 |
|
1993 |
23.6 |
17.1 |
16.6 |
17.7 |
|
1994 |
22.9 |
16.8 |
15.9 |
17.4 |
|
1995 |
22.2 |
16.1 |
14.8 |
16.7 |
|
1996 |
21.2 |
15.8 |
14.6 |
16.2 |
|
1997 |
20.1 |
15.4 |
13.5 |
15.6 |
|
1998 |
19.7 |
15.1 |
13.2 |
15.4 |
|
1999 |
19.2 |
15.1 |
13.1 |
15.3 |
|
2000 |
18.9 |
14.7 |
12.8 |
14.9 |
|
2001 |
18.7 |
14.7 |
12.5 |
14.8 |
|
2002 |
18.8 |
14.4 |
12.0 |
14.6 |
|
2003 |
18.1 |
14.2 |
11.9 |
14.3 |
|
2004 |
16.6 |
13.9 |
11.4 |
13.8 |
|
2005 |
16.5 |
13.7 |
11.5 |
13.7 |
|
2006 |
16.0 |
13.3 |
10.7 |
13.1 |
Source: Authors' analysis of CEPR extract of the Current Population Survey Outgoing Rotation Group. Union workers are either members of a union or covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.