How organized labor will fit into a reorganized economy
Ipsos’ Annaleise Azevedo Lohr discusses the macroeconomic (and microeconomic) forces driving the return of American unions — and what they mean for the future of labor.
After decades of declining union membership, 2023 saw strikes in both traditional labor strongholds (like heavy industry) and the white-collar sector. Although Ipsos polling shows strong support for organized labor overall, fewer Americans see the value of unions for themselves. How could this play out?
The labor actions of 2023 signal a tipping point that some workers again feel they need the protections that unions are supposed to offer. This is especially true where CEO pay growth has ballooned to hundreds of times that of the average worker and as artificial intelligence changes the nature of jobs and pay equality. It’s an issue that’s top of mind for American workers: 66% agree that if a CEO receives a 25% raise, the average worker should get a 25% raise, too.
As the pay gap widens and automation transforms traditional industries, trade unions could gain new importance. But their blue-collar image may be holding back their relevance in a world that is increasingly digital, entrepreneurial and fragmented.
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