Union coverage closes racial gaps in unemployment benefit recipiency

Percent of unemployed U.S. workers* receiving unemployment benefits, by union coverage status prior to separation and race, 2018

Source: Figure 4 in Alexander Hertel-Fernandez and Alix Gould-Werth, “Labor organizations and Unemployment Insurance: A virtuous circle supporting U.S. workers’ voices and reducing disparities in benefits,” (Washington Center for Equitable Growth, 2020), available at https://equitablegrowth.org/labor-organizations-and-unemployment-insurance-a-virtuous-circle-supporting-u-s-workers-voices-and-reducing-disparities-in-benefits/; Hertel-Fernandez and Gould-Werth used U.S. Census Bureau, "Current Population Survey: May and September 2018 Unemployment Insurance Nonfilers Supplement," available at https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps/techdocs/cpsmaysep18.pdf.