A new study has found that unionized health care workers in the United States earn higher salaries and receive better non-cash benefits compared to non-unionized workers, with little difference in their work hours. The study, published in JAMA, analyzed data from the US Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and Annual Social and Economic Supplement between 2009 and 2021, which included over 14,000 self-identified health care workers, including doctors, nurses, therapists, and technicians.
The study found that the overall prevalence of labor unionization among health care workers was 13.2%, with no significant change from 2009 to 2021. Unionized workers earned $123 more per week than non-unionized workers, had better employer-provided health insurance, and were more likely to have a pension or other retirement benefits. However, unionized workers did report slightly more weekly work hours.
“The associated benefits of unionization are striking but not surprising,” said Ahmed Ahmed, first author of the study. “Unions collectively bargain for their members, which appears to improve both employee compensation and pay gaps between workers.”
Senior author Xiaojuan Li added that while the findings are significant, further causal analysis is needed to understand the relationships between unionization and the economic effects for health care workers. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the health care workforce, Li also emphasized the importance of investigating whether unionization could help mitigate burnout.