Union membership in the U.S. rose by 411,000 in 2025, marking the largest increase since 2008, according to a report by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The report found that the majority of this growth occurred in states that support collective bargaining, where union membership rates are nearly three times higher than in the 26 states with "right-to-work" laws. These laws allow workers to benefit from union-negotiated contracts without paying union dues, a practice often referred to as "free riding." In 2025, states with strong collective bargaining protections gained nearly 305,000 union members, compared to about 107,000 in right-to-work states. Overall, states with collective bargaining protections have over 10.9 million union members out of 76.9 million workers, while right-to-work states have 3.7 million members out of 69.7 million workers. The report also highlights the economic impact of union membership. Nationally, labor unions are associated with an 8% increase in average wages. Workers in states that protect collective bargaining rights earn 8% more, after adjusting for cost of living, than those in states with restrictive laws. However, wage growth in states with collective bargaining protections has been 3% slower from 2019 to 2025. The wage gap between workers in these states has more than doubled over the past decade, growing from 3.2% in 2015 to 6.7% in 2025. This translates to over $4,000 less per year for the median full-time worker in states without strong union protections. Public support for unions has grown in recent years. A Gallup poll found that 71% of Americans approve of labor unions, and 47% believe unions should have more influence. Ahead of Labor Day, the AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor federation, reported that 52% of Americans trust unions, compared to 32% who trust the Democratic Party and 26% who trust the Republican Party. Young workers, in particular, showed strong support, with 57% of non-union young workers stating they would join a union if given the option. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler highlighted the growing financial strain on workers, noting that 94% of workers said their paychecks are not keeping up with rising costs like rent, groceries, and childcare. She pointed out that CEOs now earn an average of 312 times what the median worker makes, with some receiving a 21% raise in a single year. In 2025, 19 U.S. states passed 88 new laws aimed at improving workers' rights, according to a report by State Futures and NYU Wagner Labor Initiative. These laws included measures such as paid sick leave in Virginia, warehouse worker protections in Connecticut, and a ban on most non-compete agreements in Washington. Earlier data showed that 2025 was a significant year for unions, with 16.5 million workers represented by unions — the highest number in 16 years, accounting for 11.2% of all wage and salary workers in the U.S. The national union density, or the percentage of workers in a union, increased from 9.9% to 10.0% in 2025. Economist Frank Manzo IV, coauthor of the ILEPI report, emphasized that workers in states with strong collective bargaining protections earn higher wages. He noted that more Americans are turning to unions as a way to combat rising living costs. Robert Bruno, a professor at the University of Illinois and director of the Project for Middle Class Renewal, added that collective bargaining raises the wage floor, benefiting both union and non-union workers. He said the data shows that when wages rise for some, they often rise for all, a concept he described as "a rising tide lifts all boats."