Union growth driven by younger members 

New figures show union membership grew substantially – up 12.5 per cent – or by almost 200,000 members – from 2022 to 2024, driven in large part by swelling numbers of young workers.

Union membership now stands at 1.58 million, up from 1.4 million, based on ABS data showing the biggest increase in union membership since the ABS collected this data.

“We have seen a very significant rise in union membership the last two years – the largest in two generations – and it has been driven by young people,” ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said.

“Young workers know that they need to band together to have the power to change the status quo because the status quo has been growing inequality. They will want to shake things up, and that’s a good thing.”

An analysis of the figures shows broad-based union membership growth – across the private and public sectors and among a range of sector and industry types and skill levels.

The largest union growth was among workers aged 15-24 years of age (up 53 per cent) followed by workers aged 25-34 years of age (up 22 per cent). This has skewed the median age of the typical union member from 46 years to 44 years old.

Workers aged 18-29 years of age are also the most likely age group to say they intend to join their union in the next 12 months, according to separate Australian Unions’ research.

With membership growth of 12.5 per cent now outpacing the general growth in employment at 7.7 per cent, union density has lifted from 12.5 per cent to 13.1 per cent.

This includes rises in membership density across the economy, including in health care and social assistance (up 2.8 per cent) and construction (up 2 per cent).

The largest increase was among technicians and trade workers (2.2 per cent), followed by community and personal service workers (1.2 per cent) and professionals (1.1 per cent). The largest fall was among labourers (down 2.1 per cent), with most decreases between 0.2-0.4 per cent.

Women continue to make up the majority of union members – at 54.1 per cent of the movement – but the gap with men has narrowed slightly, closing by 0.5 per cent.

“Our own research has shown strong support amongst young people for unions, and this is now translating to membership,” Ms McManus said. 

“They are the future and are demanding better pay and respect at work.”

“In a cost-of-living crisis, people are joining unions to secure higher wages. Younger people are extremely price sensitive, so to see them joining a union is a sign they see the clear economic benefits of organising collectively for better pay and conditions,” she added.