Jobcase survey finds 70% of U.S. skilled and hourly workers would consider joining a union if given the chance

41% are more likely to consider joining a union now than 3 years ago

In addition to better pay, benefits and job protection, 31% might consider joining a union now in pursuit of better, fairer treatment from management

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jobcase, a social platform dedicated to empowering and advocating for workers, today released results from its survey aimed at uncovering U.S. skilled and hourly workers' sentiment towards unions and the top reasons they might consider joining one now. The findings show that after decades of declining union membership, 70% of non-union skilled and hourly workers in the U.S. are likely to consider voting to join a union now at their primary place of work if given the opportunity. Millennials are the most likely to consider doing so, with 76% saying they are likely to consider voting to join a union now at their primary place of work if given the opportunity, compared to 73% of Gen Z, 66% of Gen X and 62% of Boomers.

"While skilled and hourly workers were rightly heralded as heroes during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, not enough has been done since then to provide these hard-working Americans with higher pay or clear pathways to their success," said Fred Goff, co-founder and CEO of Jobcase. "The lack of progress has caused embers of union movements to fan into flames as workers take action to demand better."

• Among non-union U.S. skilled and hourly workers, 41% are more likely to consider joining a union now, if given the opportunity, than 3 years ago. Fifty percent have a favorable opinion of unions, with 21% saying they have a very favorable opinion. Another 58% believe that unions have their members' best interests at heart, though 17% disagree.

• Non-union U.S. skilled and hourly workers cited an increase in pay (57%), improved benefits (56%), and job protection (49%) as the top three reasons they might consider joining a union now. Although Gen Z are generally less likely than other generations to find reasons to join a union now, they are the most likely to say improving their hours and schedule would be a reason to join a union at 44% compared to 40% for Millennials, 28% for Gen X and 28% for Boomers.

• Sixty seven percent of non-union U.S. skilled and hourly workers say it is very or extremely important for unions to advocate for the fairness of how workers are valued versus executives and owners/investors. Separately, 34% say that improving how workers are compensated versus executives and owners/investors and 31% say that getting better treatment from management are reasons they might consider joining a union now.

Goff continued, "In addition to advocating for better pay and benefits on their behalf, skilled and hourly workers are interested in how unions can accelerate better, fairer treatment. Employers, and unions, should not slip into legacy thinking of this as an adversarial conversation, but rather should embrace this worker advocacy to achieve change via addition not division. Three years after the Business Roundtable's commitment to Stakeholder Capitalism, partners are emerging to help CEOs land their stated commitment to a more balanced system for workers."

Jobcase used Qualtrics to conduct an online survey among 518 U.S. employees ages 18–70 who are skilled or hourly workers and are not currently a union member. The survey was fielded between June 29–July 12, 2022.

About Jobcase: Founded in 2015, Jobcase is dedicated to empowering and advocating for the world's workers. As a social platform, Jobcase helps more than 130 million registered members lead better work lives – providing access to jobs, tools, resources, and a supportive community. Jobcase technology also powers a network of job sites and many nonprofit-driven activities via its Jobcase network. Emerging as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in Boston, Jobcase is a Workday Ventures Partner and an industry-affiliate of MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab (CSAIL). Jobcase also collaborates with employers, nonprofits and government agencies to both improve and diversify access to opportunity and participation in the workforce.

SOURCE Jobcase