Union Membership
Union density down slightly in 2006
Trade union density for employees in United Kingdom
In the quarter ending December 2006, the rate of union membership (union density) for employees in the UK fell by 0.6 percentage points to 28.4 per cent, from 29.0 per cent in autumn 2005. This was the largest annual percentage point decline since 1998. The rate of union membership among all workers was 25.8 per cent, a decrease from 26.2 per cent in autumn 2005.
Union density is higher for women than for men for the third consecutive year, and higher for older employees. More than a third of employees aged 35 and over were union members, compared with a quarter of those aged between 25 and 34. Full-time employees were more likely to be union members than part-time employees at 31.0 and 21.2 per cent respectively.
There are large differences in union density among employees in the nations: the highest was Northern Ireland (39.7 per cent) and the lowest was England (27.0 per cent).
There are also regional differences in the proportion of employees who are union members. Union density ranged from 21.4 per cent in the South East to 38.9 per cent in the North East.
Source: Labour Force Survey (autumn quarters)
Notes:
The data are derived from the Trade Union Membership 2006 report published by DTI on 19 April 2007.
The LFS has collected data from individuals on whether they are trade union members in the autumn quarter since 1992, and previously collected the information in the spring quarter from 1989 to 1991. Results for 2005 and earlier are calculated from seasonal LFS microdata.
The Certification Officer for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations provides a second source of data which goes back to 1975. This is available from the Department of Trade and Industry's website.
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Article: TU Membership estimates from autumn 2003 LFS