Trade union membership

This is not the latest release View the latest release

Trade union membership by employment and socio-demographic characteristics such as full-time/part-time, age, industry, occupation, education, earnings

Reference period

August 2020

Released

11/12/2020

View all releases

Key statistics

14% of employees (1.4 million) were trade union members.
Since 1992, the proportion of employees who were trade union members has fallen from 40% to 14%.
The Education and Training industry (31%) and the Professionals occupation (21%) had the highest trade union membership.

Prior to August 2020, information on trade union membership was published in Characteristics of Employment.

From August 2020, statistics from the Characteristics of Employment survey are now published in three topic-based releases - this Trade union membership release, as well as:

Employee earnings, working arrangements and trade union membership data from the Characteristics of employment survey for 2014 to 2020 will be available in TableBuilder from 16 December 2020. TableBuilder enables the creation of customised tables and graphs.

Trade union members

There were 1.5 million trade union members in August 2020. 12.3% of part-time employees were trade union members compared to 15.3% who worked in full-time jobs.

Trade union membership
	Full-time (%)	Part-time (%)	Total (%)
1986	47.3	40.2	45.6
1992	44.3	25.2	39.6
1998	31.2	20.2	28.1
2004	27.0	17.3	24.1
2010	21.5	15.1	19.5
2016	17.2	12.3	15.6
2018	16.0	11.8	14.6
2020	15.3	12.3	14.3

Trade union membership tends to increase with age. In August 2020 only 5% of employees aged 15-19 years and 6% aged 20-24 were trade union members. This increased to 23% for employees aged 55-59 and 25% for employees aged 60-64.

Trade union membership over time

Of the 10.4 million employees in August 2020, 14.3% were a member of a trade union in their main job. This is a decrease from the 14.6% recorded in August 2018.

Trade union membership has generally declined since 1992. From 1992 to 2020, the proportion of employees who were trade union members has fallen from 40% to 14% (from 43% to 13% for men and 35% to 16% for women).

Trade union membership by sex
	Men (pre-2004)	Women (pre-2004)	Total (pre-2004)	Men (2004+)	Women (2004+)	Total (2004+)
1976	56	43	51
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982	53.4	43.2	49.5
1983
1984
1985
1986	50.1	39.1	45.6
1987
1988	46.3	35	41.6
1989
1990	45	34.6	40.5
1991
1992	43.4	34.8	39.6
1993	40.9	33.5	37.6
1994	37.9	31.3	35
1995	35.7	29.1	32.7
1996	33.5	28.1	31.1
1997	33	26.9	30.3
1998	30	25.8	28.1
1999	27.7	23.4	25.7
2000	26.3	22.8	24.7
2001	26	22.7	24.5
2002	24.5	21.5	23.1
2003	24.1	21.8	23
2004				25.4	22.7	24.1
2005				25.5	22.2	23.9
2006				23	20.2	21.7
2007				21.1	18.9	20
2008				20.3	19.5	19.9
2009				21.6	20.1	20.9
2010				19.4	19.7	19.5
2011				20	19.1	19.6
2012				19	19.8	19.4
2013				17.7	18.6	18.1
2014				15.9	16.6	16.2
2015
2016				14.6	16.7	15.6
2017
2018				13.8	15.5	14.6
2019
2020				12.7	15.9	14.3

Trade union membership by sex

["","Men (pre-2004)","Women (pre-2004)","Total (pre-2004)","Men (2004+)","Women (2004+)","Total (2004+)"]

[["1976","1977","1978","1979","1980","1981","1982","1983","1984","1985","1986","1987","1988","1989","1990","1991","1992","1993","1994","1995","1996","1997","1998","1999","2000","2001","2002","2003","2004","2005","2006","2007","2008","2009","2010","2011","2012","2013","2014","2015","2016","2017","2018","2019","2020"],[[56],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[53.399999999999999],[null],[null],[null],[50.100000000000001],[null],[46.299999999999997],[null],[45],[null],[43.399999999999999],[40.899999999999999],[37.899999999999999],[35.700000000000003],[33.5],[33],[30],[27.699999999999999],[26.300000000000001],[26],[24.5],[24.100000000000001],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null]],[[43],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[43.200000000000003],[null],[null],[null],[39.100000000000001],[null],[35],[null],[34.600000000000001],[null],[34.799999999999997],[33.5],[31.300000000000001],[29.100000000000001],[28.100000000000001],[26.899999999999999],[25.800000000000001],[23.399999999999999],[22.800000000000001],[22.699999999999999],[21.5],[21.800000000000001],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null]],[[51],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[49.5],[null],[null],[null],[45.600000000000001],[null],[41.600000000000001],[null],[40.5],[null],[39.600000000000001],[37.600000000000001],[35],[32.700000000000003],[31.100000000000001],[30.300000000000001],[28.100000000000001],[25.699999999999999],[24.699999999999999],[24.5],[23.100000000000001],[23],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[25.399999999999999],[25.5],[23],[21.100000000000001],[20.300000000000001],[21.600000000000001],[19.399999999999999],[20],[19],[17.699999999999999],[15.9],[null],[14.6],[null],[13.800000000000001],[null],[12.699999999999999]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[22.699999999999999],[22.199999999999999],[20.199999999999999],[18.899999999999999],[19.5],[20.100000000000001],[19.699999999999999],[19.100000000000001],[19.800000000000001],[18.600000000000001],[16.600000000000001],[null],[16.699999999999999],[null],[15.5],[null],[15.9]],[[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[null],[24.100000000000001],[23.899999999999999],[21.699999999999999],[20],[19.899999999999999],[20.899999999999999],[19.5],[19.600000000000001],[19.399999999999999],[18.100000000000001],[16.199999999999999],[null],[15.6],[null],[14.6],[null],[14.300000000000001]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"2","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Trade union membership (%)","precision":"-1","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Sources: 1. Trade Union Members, Australia (1976-1996) 2. Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (1997-2003), 3. Characteristics of Employment, Australia (2004-2020)

Notes: 1. pre-2004 series: includes Owner Managers of Incorporated Enterprises (OMIEs), 2. 2004+ series: excludes OMIEs, 3. The ABS plans to produce historically comparable estimates for the pre-2004 period, excluding OMIEs, in the future.

Trade union membership history

The majority of trade union members held membership for 5 years or more.

Women made up a greater proportion of trade union membership (55%) than men (45%).

Duration of trade union membership
	Fewer than 5 years ('000)	5 years or more ('000)	Total ('000)
Men	198.6	470.2	668.8
Women	266.9	556.5	823.4
Total	465.5	1,026.8	1,492.3

Industry

The industries with the highest proportion of employees who were trade union members were:

Education and training (31%)
Public administration and safety (28%)
Health care and social assistance (24%).

Trade union membership, by industry
	2014	2020
Education and training	36.4	30.8
Public administration and safety	31.3	27.9
Health care and social assistance	23.9	23.8
Electricity, gas, water and waste services	32.2	21.8
Transport, postal and warehousing	23.8	19.9
Mining	13.3	12.7
Information media and telecommunications	13	12.1
Manufacturing	14.1	11.6
Construction	15	9.9
Retail trade	12	9.6
Arts and recreation services	8.2	8.2
Financial and insurance services	8.1	5.7
Administrative and support services	7.8	4.6
Other services	6.3	4.2
Wholesale trade	4.1	4.0
Rental, hiring and real estate services	3	2.3
Accommodation and food services	2.6	1.9
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	3.7	1.9
Professional, scientific and technical services	3.4	1.8

Trade union membership, by industry

["","2014","2020"]

[["Education and training","Public administration and safety","Health care and social assistance","Electricity, gas, water and waste services","Transport, postal and warehousing","Mining","Information media and telecommunications","Manufacturing","Construction","Retail trade","Arts and recreation services","Financial and insurance services","Administrative and support services","Other services","Wholesale trade","Rental, hiring and real estate services","Accommodation and food services","Agriculture, forestry and fishing","Professional, scientific and technical services"],[[36.399999999999999],[31.300000000000001],[23.899999999999999],[32.200000000000003],[23.800000000000001],[13.300000000000001],[13],[14.1],[15],[12],[8.1999999999999993],[8.0999999999999996],[7.7999999999999998],[6.2999999999999998],[4.0999999999999996],[3],[2.6000000000000001],[3.7000000000000002],[3.3999999999999999]],[[30.800000000000001],[27.899999999999999],[23.800000000000001],[21.800000000000001],[19.899999999999999],[12.699999999999999],[12.1],[11.6],[9.9000000000000004],[9.5999999999999996],[8.1999999999999993],[5.7000000000000002],[4.5999999999999996],[4.2000000000000002],[4],[2.2999999999999998],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8999999999999999],[1.8]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Trade union membership (%)","precision":"","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

1. For more information on Industries, refer to Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC)

Occupation

The occupations which recorded the highest proportion of employees who were Trade Union members were:

Professionals (21%)
Community and Personal Service Workers (18%)
Machinery operators and drivers (17%).

Trade union membership, by occupation and skill level
	2014	2020
Professionals	23.5	21.4
Community and personal service workers	18.3	18.0
Machinery operators and drivers	22.3	16.8
Technicians and trades workers	15.1	13.5
Labourers	16.8	11.4
Clerical and administrative workers	11.4	9.0
Sales workers	10	8.4
Managers	8.2	6.9

Skill Level 1	20.4	18.3
Skill Level 2	13.8	14.1
Skill Level 3	14.6	14.4
Skill Level 4	15.3	11.5
Skill Level 5	14	10.8

Trade union membership, by occupation and skill level

["","2014","2020"]

[["Professionals","Community and personal service workers","Machinery operators and drivers","Technicians and trades workers","Labourers","Clerical and administrative workers","Sales workers","Managers","","Skill Level 1","Skill Level 2","Skill Level 3","Skill Level 4","Skill Level 5"],[[23.5],[18.300000000000001],[22.300000000000001],[15.1],[16.800000000000001],[11.4],[10],[8.1999999999999993],[null],[20.399999999999999],[13.800000000000001],[14.6],[15.300000000000001],[14]],[[21.399999999999999],[18],[16.800000000000001],[13.5],[11.4],[9],[8.4000000000000004],[6.9000000000000004],[null],[18.300000000000001],[14.1],[14.4],[11.5],[10.800000000000001]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Trade union membership (%)","precision":"","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

1. Data is coded to ANZSCO ver 1.2. For more information on Occupations and Skill level, refer to ANZSCO - Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations

Educational attainment

Trade union membership was considerably more prevalent for employed people with a Graduate Diploma or Graduate certificate (26%), than for other qualifications. Trade union membership was lowest amongst those without non-school qualifications (10%). Trade union membership was slightly higher for people with a Postgraduate degree (13%) or a Bachelor degree (17%).

Trade union membership, by educational attainment
	2014	2020
Postgraduate degree	15.1	12.8
Graduate diploma/Graduate certificate	28.9	25.7
Bachelor degree	18.2	16.9
Advanced diploma/Diploma	16.1	16.6
Certificate III/IV	18.3	15.9
Certificate I/II and Other	15.6	13
No non-school qualifications	13	9.6

Trade union membership, by educational attainment

["","2014","2020"]

[["Postgraduate degree","Graduate diploma\/Graduate certificate","Bachelor degree","Advanced diploma\/Diploma","Certificate III\/IV","Certificate I\/II and Other","No non-school qualifications"],[[15.1],[28.899999999999999],[18.199999999999999],[16.100000000000001],[18.300000000000001],[15.6],[13]],[[12.800000000000001],[25.699999999999999],[16.899999999999999],[16.600000000000001],[15.9],[13],[9.5999999999999996]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Trade union membership (%)","precision":"","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

1. For more information on educational attainment, refer to Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED)

State and territory

Tasmania had the highest proportion (20%) of employees who were trade union members, while Western Australia and the ACT had the lowest (13% and 11% respectively).

Trade union membership, by state and territory
	2014	2020
Tasmania	25.2	19.9
Queensland	15.7	16.0
Victoria	16.4	14.5
Northern Territory	18.9	14.2
South Australia	17.0	14.1
New South Wales	16.5	13.5
Western Australia	13.6	13.1
Australian Capital Territory	17.6	11.4

Trade union membership, by state and territory

["","2014","2020"]

[["Tasmania","Queensland","Victoria","Northern Territory","South Australia","New South Wales","Western Australia","Australian Capital Territory"],[[25.199999999999999],[15.699999999999999],[16.399999999999999],[18.899999999999999],[17],[16.5],[13.6],[17.600000000000001]],[[19.899999999999999],[16],[14.5],[14.199999999999999],[14.1],[13.5],[13.1],[11.4]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Trade union membership (%)","precision":"1","table_units":"","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Earnings

The median weekly earnings for employees who were trade union members in their main job were $1,450 per week, compared with $1,100 for employees who were not a trade union member.

Median weekly earnings, by union membership in main job
	Union member ($)	Non union member ($)
Managers	2,115	1,750
Professionals	1,600	1,538
Technicians and Trades Workers	1,643	1,140
Community and Personal Service Workers	1,200	750
Clerical and Administrative Workers	1,200	1,070
Sales Workers	600	690
Machinery Operators and Drivers	1,453	1,121
Labourers	1,044	750

Median weekly earnings, by union membership in main job

["","Union member","Non union member"]

[["Managers","Professionals","Technicians and Trades Workers","Community and Personal Service Workers","Clerical and Administrative Workers","Sales Workers","Machinery Operators and Drivers","Labourers"],[[2115],[1600],[1643],[1200],[1200],[600],[1453],[1044]],[[1750],[1538],[1140],[750],[1070],[690],[1121],[750]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"Median weekly earnings ($)","precision":"","table_units":"($)","tooltip_units":"","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Job characteristics

Of the employees who were trade union members only 8% were casual employees (employees without leave entitlements).

	Trade union member in main job ('000)	Not a trade union member ('000)	Total employees ('000)
Without paid leave entitlements	91.0	1,953.2	2,281.6
Less than 12 months in current job	95.7	1,631.8	1,912.3
Not guaranteed a minimum number of weekly hours	145.1	1,798.7	2,128.7

Data downloads

Table 1d - Median Earnings by full-time or part-time, state and trade union members in main job

Data files

Download xls [266.5 KB]

Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Data files

Download xls [308 KB]

Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Data files

Download xls [185 KB]

Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Data files

Download xls [172.5 KB]

Table 12 - Median Earning for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Data files

Download xls [186.5 KB]

Table 14 - Median earnings for employees by trade union membership

Data files

Download xls [222 KB]

All 2020 data cubes

Data files

Download zip [335.62 KB]

Historical data: Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Data files

Download zip [114.72 KB]

Historical data: Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Data files

Download zip [462.9 KB]

Historical data: Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Data files

Download zip [278.88 KB]

Historical data: Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Data files

Download zip [251.72 KB]

Previous catalogue number

This release uses ABS catalogue number 6335.0*.
Data from this release was previously published in Characteristics of Employment (catalogue number 6333.0**).

Prior to 2014, trade union membership statistics were published in Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (catalogue number 6310.0).

Prior to 1999, trade union membership statistics were published in Trade Union Members, Australia (catalogue number 6325.0).

*Note: Catalogue number 6336.0 was previously used Working Conditions, Australia, Feb to May 1979.

**Note: Catalogue number 6333.0 was previously used for Working Conditions, Australia (Preliminary), Feb to May 1979.

Methodology

Characteristics of Employment, Australia methodology, August 2020

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

We can provide customised data to meet your requirements

Request a quote

Microdata and TableBuilder

We can provide access to detailed, customisable data on selected topics

View available Microdata and TableBuilder

APA

Citation

Trade union membership

APA

Citation

Key statistics

Trade union members

Trade union membership over time

Trade union membership history

Industry

Occupation

Educational attainment

State and territory

Earnings

Job characteristics

Data downloads

Table 1d - Median Earnings by full-time or part-time, state and trade union members in main job

Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Table 12 - Median Earning for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Table 14 - Median earnings for employees by trade union membership

All 2020 data cubes

Historical data: Table 12 - Median earnings for employees by duration (length) of current trade union membership

Historical data: Table 3 - Distribution of earnings for employees by industry

Historical data: Table 4 - Distribution of earnings for employees by occupation and skill level

Historical data: Table 5 - Distribution of earnings for employees by educational qualification

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

Microdata and TableBuilder

Provide feedback