Happy Labor Day!
The folks at Gallup have published the results of their annual public opinion poll on support for labor unions.
According to Gallup pollsters, “Sixty-four percent of Americans approve of labor unions, surpassing 60% for the third consecutive year and up 16 percentage points from its 2009 low point.”
Pointing to the relationship between polling responses and the current unemployment rate, Gallup pollsters also reported that “the current 64% reading is one of the highest union approval ratings Gallup has recorded over the past 50 years, topped only in March 1999 (66%), August 1999 (65%) and August 2003 (65%) surveys.”
Significantly, according to the most recent Gallup survey, support for unions is:
- Higher among women (66%) vs. men (61%).
- Highest among ages 18-34 (67%) vs. ages 35-54 (64%) and 55 + (61%).
- Higher among college graduates (68%) vs. no college (58%).
- Much higher among Democrats (82%) vs. Republicans (45%).
