Birmingham, AL – According to an analysis by Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 Union Members Summary, union membership in the U.S. construction industry has reached a historic low. The report indicates that only 10.3% of construction workers were union members in 2024, a decrease from 10.7% in 2023.
The BLS data shows that 7,978,000 construction workers were not union members in 2024, an increase of 12,000 from the previous year. Meanwhile, union membership declined by 38,000 workers over the same period.
Jay Reed, president of Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama, attributes the decline in union membership to the industry’s working conditions and compensation. “I firmly believe that the low rate of union membership nationally is a testament to the construction industry’s commitment to providing safe and adequate working conditions and fair wages. The vast majority of construction workers are simply not buying into the standard union playbook,” Reed said.
Board Chairman Tim Harrison of Harrison Construction also commented on the trend, stating, “In the construction industry, your personnel are everything. Our labor force knows that we have their back, and they do not want out-of-state union bosses complicating employer and employee relationships. The BLS report is just confirmation of the extraordinary relationship between business and labor in our industry.”
Harrison emphasized the importance of workforce development initiatives to address labor shortages as experienced workers retire. “Merit shop contractors must continue to invest in workforce development initiatives and continuing education opportunities to fill the employee shortage in our industry. As our aging experienced workers are retiring at record rates, these initiatives will attract a younger demographic by allowing them to reach the American dream,” he said.
The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama represents the state’s construction industry, which provides 200,000 jobs and accounts for 5% of Alabama’s economic output.
