The effect of individual characteristics on the likelihood of an individual joining a union has received considerable attention in the union membership literature. The individual characteristics that are considered in this study include gender, age, education, marital status, family size and occupational status of spouse. Each of these variables is discussed below, explaining its interaction with the demand for union services.
With regard to the effect of gender on union membership status, the general consensus is that males have a greater propensity to join unions. The usual explanation is that because of their lower turnover rate, males are more likely to be around to reap the long-run benefits of unionization, thus increasing their willingness to become union members. In a recent study, however, Fiorito and Greer (1986) found that "gender variations in unionism measures are due to confounding influences". That is, if gender differences in occupations, permanency of jobs, labor force attachments, and job satisfaction are controlled for, female workers are just as likely to join unions as their male counterparts.
The relationship between an individual's age and propensity to join a union is indeterminate. On one hand, because of the seniority provisions associated with unionism, older workers are more likely to benefit from unionism, thereby increasing their willingness to join a union. On the other hand, as pointed out by Hundley, the wage benefits resulting from unionization tend to be higher for younger workers than for older workers. It is therefore anticipated that the latter will be less willing to join a union. Because of these competing explanations, it is therefore not clear as to which direction age would affect the probability of union membership.( Abowd, John M., and Henry S. Farber. (2004))
It is anticipated that education and the probability of union membership are inversely related..............
