CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia service workers represented by unions make nearly $6 an hour more than those not represented by unions, according to a new study.

"Unionization also increases the likelihood that service workers, especially those in low-wage occupations, will have health insurance and retirement benefits," said Ted Boettner, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

Between 2004 and 2007, the median wage paid unionized service workers in West Virginia was $18.44 an hour, compared to $12.47 an hour paid to service workers not represented by unions.

During the past 30 years, West Virginia's work force shifted dramatically from jobs in manufacturing, mining and construction industries to service-sector jobs in places like retail stores, hospitals, nursing homes and child-care centers.

In recent years, about 77 percent of West Virginians hold service-sector jobs, 13.1 percent of them unionized.

John Schmitt, an economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., published a short study last month titled "Unions and Upward Mobility for Service-Sector Workers."

"The vast majority of jobs in this country are now in the service sector," Schmitt wrote. "The data show that workers in service jobs benefit as much from unionization as workers in manufacturing do."

Service workers in low-paying jobs who were union members were 26 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance and 23 percent more likely to have employer-funded pension plans, Schmitt's study showed. 

"Unionization also increases the likelihood that service workers, especially those in low-wage occupations, will have health insurance and retirement benefits," said Ted Boettner, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.

Between 2004 and 2007, the median wage paid unionized service workers in West Virginia was $18.44 an hour, compared to $12.47 an hour paid to service workers not represented by unions.

During the past 30 years, West Virginia's work force shifted dramatically from jobs in manufacturing, mining and construction industries to service-sector jobs in places like retail stores, hospitals, nursing homes and child-care centers.

In recent years, about 77 percent of West Virginians hold service-sector jobs, 13.1 percent of them unionized.

John Schmitt, an economist with the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., published a short study last month titled "Unions and Upward Mobility for Service-Sector Workers."

"The vast majority of jobs in this country are now in the service sector," Schmitt wrote. "The data show that workers in service jobs benefit as much from unionization as workers in manufacturing do."

Service workers in low-paying jobs who were union members were 26 percent more likely to have employer-sponsored health insurance and 23 percent more likely to have employer-funded pension plans, Schmitt's study showed. 

Thirty years ago, West Virginia had one of the nation's highest percentages of union workers.

That percentage fell over the years as thousands of jobs disappeared in steel, aluminum, chemical and glass plants.

The percentage of union workers also dropped as coal mines became more mechanized, eliminating thousands of jobs, and as more mines became non-union.

With 13.1 percent of its service sector employees unionized, West Virginia ranked 21st in the nation. The three states with the highest rates were: New York, 26.9 percent; Hawaii, 24.1 percent and Alaska, 23.0 percent.

Between 2004 and 2007, 22.8 percent of all West Virginia's non-service industry employees belonged to unions, ranking the state seventh in the nation.

 Schmitt concludes, "A better protection of workers' rights to unionize would have a substantial positive impact on the pay and benefits of workers in this large and growing sector of the economy."

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.