The Number of U.S. Workers Involved in a Strike in 2018 Was the Highest Since 1986

The number of U.S. workers involved in work stoppages, which includes strikes and lockouts, was the highest of any year since 1986, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on Friday.

More than 90% of these 485,000 workers were in the education, health care and social assistance industries. This should come as no surprise, as waves of teacher activism and strikes by nurses and other medical workers frequently dominated headlines last year.

The number of U.S. workers involved in work stoppages, which includes strikes and lockouts, was the highest of any year since 1986, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on Friday. More than 90% of these 485,000 workers were in the education, health care and social assistance industries. This should come as no surprise, as waves of teacher activism and strikes by nurses and other medical workers frequently dominated headlines last year.