Union Membership and Density Among Professionals Grew Again in 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2026 — Nearly 170,000 professionals joined unions in 2025, pushing total professional union membership to more than 6.6 million, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual union membership report. Union density among professionals also increased, rising to 10.5 percent.

“Even amid economic uncertainty, professionals are organizing in growing numbers,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “Through collective bargaining, professionals are building stability, fairness, and a stronger voice at work.”

Growth was driven largely by professionals employed by state governments and nonprofit organizations. While gains in the private, for-profit sector were more modest, both union membership and union density increased there as well.

Professionals in the nonprofit sector and higher education continue to lead the surge in organizing. From 2022 to 2025, professional union membership in the nonprofit sector jumped 25.8 percent, with union density rising from 7.4 percent to 8.9 percent. In higher education, professional union membership grew by 17.2 percent, and union density climbed from 13.7 percent to 15.3 percent.

These figures do not capture professionals who have successfully organized unions but have not yet ratified their first contracts. Still, more professionals won their unions last year.

“Professionals grew union membership last year despite unprecedented attacks on workers’ rights,” Dorning said. “Outdated labor laws and under-resourced enforcement agencies continue to prevent millions of professionals from organizing. Congress must act to ensure professionals across sectors can fully exercise their right to unionize.”

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.