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Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Note: Values are not seasonally adjusted; Chart: Axios Visuals

Arizona was one of the least unionized states in the country last year, and its union numbers are on the decline.

Why it matters: Even among right-to-work states, Arizona stands out for low unionization. Jim McLaughlin, president of the UFCW Local 99, tells Axios it's a result of the state's reliance on service economy industries with low union membership.

State of play: Only 4.2% of Arizona workers were union members in 2023, according to recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The state's rate hit a 21st-century low of 4% in 2017, after peaking at 8.8% in 2007-2008.

The big picture: Arizona has the fifth-lowest rate of union membership in the country, behind South Carolina (2.3%), North Carolina (2.7%), South Dakota (3.6%) and Utah (4.1%). Hawaii led the nation at 24.1%.

The state is also well below the U.S. average of 10%, which is a new national low.

Context: Arizona is one of 26 states with right-to-work laws that prohibit mandatory union membership.

Voters approved a right-to-work amendment to the state constitution in 1946.

The intrigue: Advocates say unions are a needed proponent of worker rights and compensation, while critics accuse them of throttling economic growth.

Arizona Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Courtney Coolidge told Chamber Business News last month that right-to-work laws have been a major contributor to the state's economic growth.

Reality check: McLaughlin said he was surprised by the federal figures because he saw an uptick in organized labor activity in Arizona last year, at least in the private sector.

Unions here were organizing new industries, such as cannabis, as well as new units within existing industries and employers, he said. 

He noted that there's been more union activity among airport employees such as cabin cleaners.

Plus: A Gilbert Starbucks became the seventh of the coffee giant's stores in Arizona to unionize last year.

Zoom out: It's an annual exercise in the Legislature for Democrats to propose bills to repeal the state's right-to-work laws and constitutional provisions, but they never advance through the Republican-controlled chambers.

Bills to repeal both the constitutional and statutory laws have been introduced this session.

What we're watching: Republicans have controlled the Legislature for about 50 years, but if Democrats achieve their elusive goal of taking the majority in November, they'll likely prioritize right-to-work reforms.

Arizona's low union membership rate takes another dive

Only four states had lower union membership rates.

Labor unions

chart showing two lines, one dipping lower than the other

Arizona was one of the least <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unionized" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/23/unions-big-labor-uaw-teamsters-strikes" data-vars-content-id="0340c384-bcc6-4de0-865b-93b91ab13cf5" data-vars-headline="Arizona&#x27;s low union membership rate takes another dive" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/01/23/unions-big-labor-uaw-teamsters-strikes" target="_self">unionized</a> states in the country last year, and its union numbers are on the decline.Why it matters: Even among right-to-work states, Arizona stands out for low unionization. Jim McLaughlin, president of the UFCW Local 99, tells Axios it&#x27;s a result of the state&#x27;s reliance on service economy industries with low union membership.

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The escalating bird flu crisis is ravaging the nation's egg supply, and that shortage has hit Arizona along with the rest of the U.S.

Why it matters: An outbreak of avian influenza is growing and has affected nearly 13 million birds in the last 30 days, according to USDA data.

Some retailers are limiting the number of cartons consumers can purchase as others are having a hard time keeping shelves stocked.

What they're saying: "It's really a crazy situation and an unfortunate situation for consumers because the supply situation is what it is due to the bird flu," Jason Hart, CEO of grocery chain Aldi, tells Axios.

Zoom in: In Arizona, many retailers have set a two-carton limit on eggs for customers in an attempt to prevent "the mass buying that was happening … during COVID, to just make sure that there's enough for everybody," Lisa Bednar, president of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, told Axios.

Locally, a dozen large eggs at Fry's costs $6.49. The cheapest dozen available at Walmart stores is $5.42.

What's next: Bednar said she expects prices to continue going up.

Bednar told Axios it could take at least a year for egg producers to replenish their stocks of laying hens, with about 1 million being euthanized nationally due to the avian flu.

Threat level: Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, said retail demand for eggs "has been exceptionally high for a sustained period," and failing to act quickly to find new ways to fight [highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI] could mean continued challenges for customers and consumers."

Zoom out: Egg prices are climbing to new record highs daily, Karyn Rispoli, a managing editor for price-reporting service Expana, tells Axios.

What we're watching: It remains to be seen whether the Trump administration will take any action in addition to efforts already underway to address the crisis.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would give Moderna approximately $590 million to accelerate bird flu vaccine trials.

Reality check: "There's no real silver bullet for this thing right now, outside of trying to stop the spread of the virus and get birds repopulated as quickly as possible," Moscogiuri said, adding that "farms are doing their best of their ability."

"It's unlikely that the new administration will be able to bring about significant change in just a matter of weeks, especially when it comes to the bird flu itself," Rispoli said.

Avian flu crisis brings egg-scrutiating shortage to Arizona

Some retailers are limiting customers to two cartons of eggs in response to a national shortage.

A sign on an empty shelf in a grocery store informs shoppers of an egg shortage. 

Grocery stores across the nation are experiencing shortages due to the bird flu. Photo: Lindsey Nicholson/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The escalating <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="bird flu crisis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/bird-flu-pandemic-risk-prepared" data-vars-content-id="7b0b9f1d-e2f4-4102-ad69-9e9c5f89684f" data-vars-headline="Avian flu crisis brings egg-scrutiating shortage to Arizona" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/01/10/bird-flu-pandemic-risk-prepared" target="_self">bird flu crisis</a> is ravaging the nation&#x27;s egg supply, and that shortage has hit Arizona along with the rest of the U.S.Why it matters: An outbreak of avian influenza is growing and has affected nearly 13 million birds in the last 30 days, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="USDA data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" data-vars-content-id="7b0b9f1d-e2f4-4102-ad69-9e9c5f89684f" data-vars-headline="Avian flu crisis brings egg-scrutiating shortage to Arizona" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks" target="_blank">USDA data</a>.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on prediction markets, setting up a clash with states like Arizona that have sought to block them.

Why it matters: Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have been surging in popularity, raising questions about the legality of sports event contracts and other trading opportunities in a growing gambling culture.

Driving the news: CFTC chair Mike Selig said last week that the commission is filing friend-of-the-court briefs in cases where "American prediction markets have been hit with an onslaught of state-led litigation."

The CFTC will "defend its exclusive jurisdiction over these derivative markets," Selig said in a video post. "To those who seek to challenge our authority in this space, let me be clear — we will see you in court."

The other side: The American Gaming Association, which represents casinos and has opposed prediction markets, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The group argued in January that sports event contracts offered by prediction markets "are indistinguishable from legal sports betting" and are illegal.

A slew of states have taken legal action against prediction markets, including Nevada, Massachusetts, Maryland, Arizona, Michigan, New York and Illinois.

Zoom in: The Arizona Department of Gaming has issued cease-and-desist letters to prediction market platforms Kalshi, Crypto.com, and Robinhood, which it accuses of providing unlicensed event wagering, Arizona's Family reported in December.

The department disagrees with the commission's comments, saying in a statement to Axios: "Arizona has a clear responsibility to enforce its gaming and wagering laws whenever products operate as gambling within our state."

The Arizona Attorney General's Office has not taken legal action against prediction markets, unlike its counterparts in some other states.

Feds push back against states on prediction markets

Arizona disagrees with the feds' claim of exclusive authority over online prediction markets.

A laptop screen with the word "Futures" above eight bars on a chart showing betting odds for possible Super Bowl winners in descending order. 

Polymarket event contracts displayed on a computer. Photo: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is launching a legal campaign to defend its regulatory turf on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="prediction markets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/coalition-for-prediction-markets-kalshi-crypto" data-vars-content-id="f8a9d0f7-f241-46d2-8ea1-18ccbe2aa9f6" data-vars-headline="Feds push back against states on prediction markets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/11/coalition-for-prediction-markets-kalshi-crypto" target="_self">prediction markets</a>, setting up a clash with states like Arizona that have sought to block them.Why it matters: Prediction markets like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kalshi" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/17/kalshi-sports-betting-super-bowl" data-vars-content-id="f8a9d0f7-f241-46d2-8ea1-18ccbe2aa9f6" data-vars-headline="Feds push back against states on prediction markets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/04/17/kalshi-sports-betting-super-bowl" target="_self">Kalshi</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Polymarket" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/polymarket-ceo-sportsbooks-gambling" data-vars-content-id="f8a9d0f7-f241-46d2-8ea1-18ccbe2aa9f6" data-vars-headline="Feds push back against states on prediction markets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/11/18/polymarket-ceo-sportsbooks-gambling" target="_self">Polymarket</a> have been surging in popularity, raising questions about the legality of sports event contracts and other trading opportunities in a growing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gambling culture" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/08/polymarket-kalshi-draftkings-fanduel-betting" data-vars-content-id="f8a9d0f7-f241-46d2-8ea1-18ccbe2aa9f6" data-vars-headline="Feds push back against states on prediction markets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/08/polymarket-kalshi-draftkings-fanduel-betting" target="_self">gambling culture</a>.

Nathan Bomey

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