A new study from the University of Minnesota has found a surprising link: people who belong to unions tend to live longer than those who don’t. Using decades of data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), the researchers showed that union membership is tied to lower mortality rates.

The PSID, run by the University of Michigan, is a long-term survey tracking over 65,000 people across generations. It collects data on income, health, education, work, and social factors. For this study, researchers looked at mortality rates between 1935 and 1965 and between 1969 and 2019. They compared outcomes for union members and non-members.

Health benefits

The results showed that union members were 1.5% less likely to die each year compared to non-members. The researchers suggest that this edge may come from the benefits unions provide, like higher wages, better job security, more paid time off, and better access to health care.

The study also highlights a worrying trend: as union membership has fallen in the U.S. over the past few decades, so has life expectancy. It is now at its lowest point in 20 years. The researchers argue that improving working conditions—especially for low-income workers—could help reverse this decline.

Unions, it seems, do more than secure better paychecks. They may also help workers lead longer, healthier lives.