Study finds Gen Z Leads the Charge in Union Support

On today’s episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast, Aurelia Glass, Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress, discussed research on union support among young Americans. Glass’s work focuses on the American Worker Project, which advocates for policies that make organizing easier and strengthen workers’ rights. 

Glass began by highlighting a clear reality: unions work. They boost wages, enhance workplace protections and provide young workers with powerful tools to advocate for themselves. According to her research, younger people today, especially Gen Z men, are increasingly drawn to unions due to economic challenges such as affordability and stagnant wages. Glass noted that this appeal is intensified by financial pressures that make it harder for young workers to achieve traditional milestones of independence. However, union membership is particularly effective for young men, enhancing their ability to support themselves and their families, Glass added.

Delving deeper into the data, Glass explained that support for unions is at a multi-decade high across all generations, but what stands out is the enthusiasm of Gen Z. Men in this age group show the highest levels of pro-union sentiment ever recorded, exceeding even the levels of union support seen in older generations when they were the same age. While this trend spans both young men and women, the surge among men is especially notable. Additionally, unions are delivering the most significant wage boosts for men under 34, with rates rising by 17.6 percent—a reflection of the practical benefits unions bring.

Looking forward, Glass emphasized the need to address shortcomings in America’s labor laws, which often make it difficult for workers to organize. Improving these laws is essential for sustaining the momentum of today’s labor movement. She emphasized that the Center for American Progress is dedicated to disseminating these findings, raising awareness among workers and policymakers and advocating for reforms that expand access to union representation for more Americans.

For more from Glass and the Center for American Progress, listen to the full episode of the America’s Work Force Union Podcast above.