Unions in search of new workers to join their ranks can be expected to target the lowest-hanging fruit. Thus, they will look at two key components – the areas where they have had the most success in the past and the areas in which they offer the greatest potential benefit to the prospective members. According to statistics from the US Department of Labor, males are more likely to be in a union than are females; blacks are more likely than whites or Hispanics. According to the AFL-CIO, Latino workers in a union make 51% more than their non-union counterparts. African-American members and female members also show a significantly higher wage as a result of union membership, whereas Asian-Americans, for example, only earn 4% more on average if they are in a union.
             Therefore, unions can be expected to target jobs that have a greater proportion of workers who are either female, African-American or Latino-American.
             Another aspect of their search for workers in areas where they've been successful in the past or where they offer the greatest potential benefit is the specific industry. Several industries have traditionally been highly unionized. Protection services, for example, which includes police and firefighters, has the highest rate of unionization amongst any occupation. The civil service is also highly unionized – according to the Department of Labor 4 in 10 government workers belongs to a union, versus 1 in 10 private sector workers.
             In terms of greatest potential benefit, AFL-CIO statistics show that in several industries unionization leads to higher wages amongst workers. Their numbers show this in construction, mining, manufacturing, protection services, health care, cleaning and maintenance, transportation and food services. Conversely, unionization typically yields little or no benefit to several occupational groups, including sales, engineering, computers, management and finance. Union organize...