The number of strikes in the U.S. in 2023 was the highest in more than two decades, according to government data out Wednesday.

Why it matters: The strong labor market of the past few years emboldened workers and union organizers to take a harder line, pushing more folks to the picket line.

• Strikes happened across a range of industries, but the vast majority happened in the service sector — think education and health care, two industries suffering from work shortages and post-pandemic burnout.

Reality check: These numbers are minuscule compared to the kind of activity last seen in the 20th century.

• Back in 1981, as the generally anti-labor Reagan administration was getting underway, there were 145 strikes.

Go deeper: Forget the summer of strikes...2023 was a year of strikes