ABC

SYRACUSE, NY, Feb. 26—Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter today released analysis from ABC National of state union membership data published by unionstats.com, which found that 78% private industry construction workers in New York do not belong to a union in 2025. 

Nationwide, at least 90% of construction workers in 24 states did not belong to a union last year. Overall, there were a record 9 million nonunion construction workers compared to 995,000 union members last year, according to a Feb. 18 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

"Year after year, data at the national and state level continue to show the supermajority of construction companies choose an employment relationship in a merit-based culture, which is the best way to attract talent and the most productive means to deliver long-lasting, high-quality projects at affordable prices,” said Brian Sampson, president of ABC’s Empire State Chapter. 

“It’s clear that discriminatory, union-only rules are unfair and unworkable in New York,” said Sampson. 

Employee choice whether or not to affiliate with unions creates immense value in the marketplace, which is why ABC Empire State will continue to oppose government-mandated project labor agreement policies and advocate for freedom for all construction workers to choose how to achieve their career dreams and prosper in a safe and healthy environment.   

“ABC urges New York policymakers to advance policies that level the playing field, preserve worker choice and address the issues that the construction industry faces, including a worker shortage of 349,000, economic uncertainty, immigration policy, inflation and high interest rates,” said Sampson.