More people join unions

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of statistics shows that union membership is increasing.

In August 2009, the proportion of employees, who were trade union members in their main job, increased from 19% in 2008 to 20%. This was an increase of 82,200 from the previous year.

The data shows there are 1.9 million Australians that are members of a union and that union members earn, on average, $145 a week more than non- members

Data collected about trade union members in their main job for August 2009 also showed:
* 22% of full-time employees, and 15% of part-time employees were trade union members in their main job;
* 46% of public sector employees compared to 14% of private sector employees were trade union members in their main job; and
* Tasmania had the highest proportion (26%), while the Australian Capital Territory had the lowest proportion (13%) of employees who were trade union members in their main job.


TABLE: Employees in main job, Industry of main job, By trade union membership in main job-Proportion of all employees who were trade union members


Employees in the Education and training industry group, had the highest proportion of trade union membership in their main job (42%), followed by Electricity, gas, water and waste services (41%). The industry group with the lowest proportion of trade union membership in their main job, was Agriculture, forestry and fishing (3%).

Full details are available from the ABS