Where the Winners Meet

In my travels I occasionally hear that trade and professional associations are less relevant today. Surely, the younger generation has no use for these relicts of a bygone era.

Such musings, however, are just that—musings, with little or no data to back them up. In fact, associations have plenty of good news to share. One example? The percentage of the adult U.S. population that belongs to at least one association has tripled since the early 1970s.

In the association business, we believe associations help professionals to be more effective in their jobs and more successful in their careers. And we have evidence to support this.

The William E. Smith Institute for Association Research commissioned a study designed to address this question. The study, conducted by Arthur C. Brooks, Ph.D., examines the relationship between association membership and income, job satisfaction and many aspects of people’s professional lives.

Brooks based his research on an analysis of the General Social Survey (GSS), a sociological survey of the demographic characteristics and attitudes of U.S. residents. The survey was conducted almost every year from 1972 to 1994. Since 1994, it has been conducted every other year. More than 55,000 respondents and 5,417 variables had been collected as of 2010. One of the questions respondents answered was whether they belonged to a “professional or academic society.” They also answered questions about their income, job satisfaction, overall happiness, work circumstances and demographic characteristics.

Among the strongest statistics was this: People who are members of an association have an average annual household income that is almost 52 percent higher than people who do not belong to an association. In addition, the percent of people who are “very satisfied” with their jobs is 23 percent higher among people who belong to an association compared with people who do not belong to an association.

Brooks said these statistics don’t necessarily mean association membership causes higher incomes and greater job satisfaction; it is more likely that success and satisfaction at work increases the likelihood of joining an association.

Associations also can create value for today’s employers. Employee attrition is a major challenge for any business, large or small. Higher morale leads to higher employee retention.

If you are reading this column shortly after the 2013 PRISM International Annual Conference has concluded and you attended the event, congratulations! You were where the winners met.

Dave Bergeson is the executive director of PRISM International, Chicago, and can be reached at dbergeson@prismintl.org.