As AI and automation continue reshaping the job market, younger workers are embracing unions as a means to secure fair policies, economic stability, and career growth. According to the 2025 LaborStrong Perceptions and Priorities of Labor Survey, 77% of Gen Z workers believe unionized workplaces are superior, and 56% actively seek union-backed jobs. However, the role of unions is evolving beyond wages and benefits—today’s workforce expects unions to address AI, automation, and modern workplace concerns like burnout, hybrid work, and job security.
Findings from the 2025 LaborStrong Survey
1. AI and Automation Are Top Union Concerns for Younger Workers
- More than 50% of Gen Z workers believe unions should play a critical role in shaping policies around AI and automation.
- Their concerns mirror union activism in industries like Hollywood, auto manufacturing, and tech.
- Beyond technology, younger workers want unions to focus on wage security, hybrid work policies, and job stability.
2. Paid Leave and Work-Life Balance Matter More to Gen Z
- Gen Z values work-life balance and paid leave over traditional employment benefits.
- Younger workers rank these benefits twice as important as Gen X workers (ages 45–60) and three times as important as those over 60.
- Mental health concerns and burnout are driving this shift in workplace priorities.
3. Trust in Unions Peaks in Mid-Career, Declines in Later Years
- 66% of workers in their 30s and 40s trust unions to effectively represent them.
- However, trust drops to 39% among Gen X and 44% among Baby Boomers.
- This highlights the challenge for unions: maintaining relevance across generations by balancing advocacy for younger and older employees.
4. Gen Z Seeks Union Jobs More Than Any Other Generation
- 56% of Gen Z workers actively look for unionized workplaces, compared to 39% of Gen X workers.
- The preference for union jobs suggests younger workers see greater career stability, benefits, and protections under union representation.
- However, older generations, particularly those over 60, are less convinced about the benefits of unions.
The Future of Unions: Adapting to a Changing Workforce
The data reveals a generational shift in how unions are perceived. While older workers may feel disconnected from modern labor movements, younger employees expect unions to actively shape the evolving job market.
strategies for unions moving forward:
- Engage with AI and automation policies to ensure workers benefit from technological advancements rather than being displaced.
- Address work-life balance and burnout to attract and retain younger workers.
- Reinforce the value of unions to older workers by highlighting benefits beyond wages and collective bargaining, such as job security and healthcare protections.
Joe Morrone, Vice President of MagnaCare, summarized this shift, stating:
“The role of unions has always been to protect workers. In 2025, that means adapting to AI, automation, and new workforce challenges. Younger employees see this shift happening and expect unions to lead the way in shaping the future of work.”
The role of unions is evolving, and younger generations are seeking stronger advocacy in areas like AI, automation, and workplace flexibility. As younger workers increasingly turn to unions for career security, unions must modernize their approach to remain trusted advocates for employees across all generations.
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