Feb 21, 2024 - Economy
U.S. saw highest number of strikes since 2000
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The number of strikes in the U.S. in 2023 was the highest in more than two decades, according to government data out Wednesday.
Why it matters: The strong labor market of the past few years emboldened workers and union organizers to take a harder line, pushing more folks to the picket line.
- Strikes happened across a range of industries, but the vast majority happened in the service sector — think education and health care, two industries suffering from work shortages and post-pandemic burnout.
Reality check: These numbers are minuscule compared to the kind of activity last seen in the 20th century.
- Back in 1981, as the generally anti-labor Reagan administration was getting underway, there were 145 strikes.
Go deeper: Forget the summer of strikes...2023 was a year of strikes
