Documentation for the Union Membership and Coverage Database

Unionstats.com

Union Membership and Coverage Database from the CPS (Documentation)

The Union Membership and Coverage Database, available at www.unionstats.com, is an Internet data resource providing private and public sector labor union membership, coverage, and density estimates compiled from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly household survey, using BLS methods. Economy-wide estimates are provided beginning in 1973; estimates by state, detailed industry, and detailed occupation begin in 1983; and estimates by metropolitan area begin in 1986. The Database, constructed by Barry Hirsch (Trinity University) and David Macpherson (Florida State University), is updated annually.

Use of figures from the Database requires citation.

Sample sizes (denoted by "Obs" in tables) are very small for some cells. Use with caution.

A description of the Database is provided in the paper below, available in pdf.

Barry T. Hirsch and David A. Macpherson, "Union Membership and Coverage Database from the Current Population Survey: Note," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 56, No. 2, January 2003, pp. 349-54. (in pdf)

Union figures from the 2006 CPS posted February 1, 2007

INFORMATION ON CPS REVISIONS IN 2003 AND 2004

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CPS Documentation Files and Links:

CPS Main Page

CPS Documentation Main Page

CPS State Classifications

CPS Metropolitan Area Classifications (May 2004 to present)

CPS Metropolitan Area Classifications (September 1995 to April 2004)

CPS Metropolitan Area Classifications (October 1985 to May 1995)

CPS Industry Classifications (beginning 2003)

CPS Industry Classifications (1992-2002)