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The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission reported on October 15 that the proportions of union jobs being moved to Mexico and China increased dramatically since 2001.

The report noted that in 2001, 14 percent of companies that moved production and jobs to China were unionized, but that figure rose to 29 percent in 2004. Meanwhile, the proportion of jobs at unionized facilities that moved jobs to Mexico rose from 26 percent three years ago to 44 percent this year.

Overall, the report said 39 percent of the jobs sent overseas in 2004 have been union jobs. Around 8 percent of private sector workers are union members.

In all, U.S. employers will shift an estimated 406,000 to Mexico, China and other foreign countries in 2004, about double the number three years ago, when 204,000 jobs were moved to foreign countries, the report said.

The report said that 140,000 jobs will be shifted to Mexico this year and as many as 99,000 will go to China in 20204, compared to 85,000 to each country in 2001. The Midwest lost the most jobs to offshoring -- 18,398, with Illinois losing more jobs than any other state, with nearly all its 7,555 jobs going to Mexico, the report added. The Northeast lost 7,223.