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Union Membership Peaks in Midlife

Author

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  • David G. Blanchflower
  • Alex Bryson
Abstract
Using data from 68 countries on over eight million respondents over 40 years we show union membership peaks in midlife — usually around workers’ late 40s or early 50s. In doing so we extend Blanchflower's earlier study, incorporating a further 39 countries and another decade or so of data. We show the age peak in union membership is apparent across birth cohorts, and that the introduction of cohort dummies makes little difference to the age at which membership peaks. In Europe we show the peak coincides with the age point at which exit rates from union membership rise. We show that, among those aged 50 and over, retirement rates are higher among ex‐members than among those who have never been union members, suggesting the increased prevalence of non‐membership among workers later in life is due to union members retiring earlier, as one might expect given their pension entitlements. The age at which union membership peaks increases only very slightly over time in the United States but rises markedly in the United Kingdom. Since unions are democratic organizations, the implication is that unions in the United Kingdom may shift what they do to maximize the utility of an ageing membership.

Suggested Citation

  • David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2022. "Union Membership Peaks in Midlife," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 124-151, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:60:y:2022:i:1:p:124-151
    DOI: 10.1111/bjir.12606
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    Cited by:

    1. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2020. "Now Unions Increase Job Satisfaction and Well-being," NBER Working Papers 27720, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Cyprien Batut & Ulysse Lojkine & Paolo Santini, 2021. "Which side are you on? A historical perspective on union membership composition in four European countries," Working Papers halshs-03364022, HAL.
    3. Melanie Jones, 2024. "Disability and trade union membership in the UK," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 62(1), pages 28-49, March.
    4. David G. Blanchflower & Alex Bryson, 2022. "Union Membership Peaks in Midlife," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 60(1), pages 124-151, March.
    5. Pyka, Vinzenz & Schnabel, Claus, 2023. "Unionization of retired workers in Europe," Discussion Papers 128, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Chair of Labour and Regional Economics.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J14 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of the Elderly; Economics of the Handicapped; Non-Labor Market Discrimination
    • J50 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - General
    • J51 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor-Management Relations, Trade Unions, and Collective Bargaining - - - Trade Unions: Objectives, Structure, and Effects

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