Out of 100 legislators in the average democracy, how many came from a working-class job?
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Just 2% of national lawmakers in the average democracy last held a working-class job. Even union-friendly nations with publicly funded campaigns, like Germany, Belgium and Finland, are at 5% or less. In the US, where half the workforce is working class, only about 1% of Congress last held a working-class job.
Half of American workers hold working-class jobs, but barely 1% of Congress came from one. Globally, the average is just 2%.
Source: Carnes & Lupu, Keeping Workers Off the Ballot (Princeton, Oct 2026); The Conversation, Aug 2026 · checked Aug 2026