Abstract
In Japan, since 1975, union density has declined sharply from 34.4% in 1975 to 20.0% in 2003. To investigate the reasons for the decline in union density, this essay summarizes the main results based upon a sample survey of individual workers and their attitude towards unions and potential unionization. To better understand the nature of "de-unionization" in Japan, it is important to describe the process of declining union density. Two factors have played a critical role in the process: (1) the changing composition of employment in heavily and lightly unionized groups (employment shifts), and (2) the slowdown of organizing activity by unions in the union organizing process. In addition, this paper examines the union's effect on wages using time-series data. The results suggest that the union density might achieve a wage gain and allow for a possible spillover effect to the service industry workers. Although this cannot be given a causal interpretation, it suggests important issues about how unions may affect one part of the labor market.
