The Erosion of Union Membership focused on the United States

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Economics - Job market economics, grade: 1,7, University of Hohenheim (Institut fur Volkswirtschaftslehre), language: English, abstract: Surveying some recent data and the empirical literature from various disciplines, this research paper attempts to shed some light on the topic ‘The Erosion of Union Membership in the United States’. Trade union membership density describes union membership as a percentage of all employees excluding the self-employed and represents a significant measurement for union success. Union density in the United States has declined significantly in recent decades. The purpose of this research is to determine why such a decrease is occurring. There are several factors that contribute to this plunge in union membership density. In order to discover those it is essential to take a look at the history of the US labor union movement and some major factors and circumstances that posed an impediment to its progress as well as to examine the duties of unions and causes that impel employees to join unions. In conclusion the impact of plummeting union membership will be elucidated.