Union membership – 1.6 million Australians

1.6 million working Australians are members of a union.

In August 2016, there were 1.6 million employed persons who were trade union members in their main job. Persons in the Education and training, and the Public administration and safety industry divisions, had the highest proportion of trade union membership in their main job (both 31%). (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017)

The occupation group that had the highest proportion of trade union members in their main job was Professionals (20%), followed by and Machinery operators and drivers (18%).

Trade union members get paid more

Other characteristics of trade union members in their main job include:

  • 51% were females;
  • 92% of employees had paid leave entitlements;
  • 38% of public sector workers were members of a trade union in their main job, compared to only 9% of private sector workers;
  • The mean weekly earnings in main job was $1,360, compared to $1,189 for those who were not trade union members;
  • The median weekly earnings in main job was $1,211, compared to $1,000 for those who were not trade union members;
  • Only 4% of employed persons aged 15-19 years and 7% of employed persons aged 20-24 were trade union members in their main job;  and
  • 21% of employed persons aged 55–59 years were trade union members and of those 88% have been for over five years.
Source: (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2017)

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