The Gendered Effects of Teachers’ Unions on Teacher Attrition: Evidence from District–Teacher Matched Data in the US

Abstract

This study examines how teachers' unions differently affect teacher attrition by gender, relying on nationally representative, district–teacher matched data from the United States. To identify union effects, the article employs a multilevel linear model and exploits natural experiments. Results find that teachers' unions reduce teacher attrition and that the union effects greatly differ by teacher gender and teaching subject. The study also finds that the changes in legal institutions restricting the collective bargaining of teachers significantly raise teacher attrition, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. HIGHLIGHTS Teachers' unions help districts deal with teacher shortage problems by reducing attrition of their teachers. Union effects are greater for men STEM teachers than for non-STEM men teachers; the pattern is the opposite for women teachers. Because teaching is dominated by women, districts with higher union membership may imply more room for women's voices. Legal changes that undermine teachers' unions are likely to result in deteriorating employment conditions and, ultimately, poor educational outcomes.