Has the tide turned for Trade Unions? Findings from the Skills and Employment Survey 2024

This report examines key trends in union membership in Britain and perceptions in the influence that unions have.The report also examines the demand for union representation among those employed at non-unionised workplaces and how these demands vary between different population subgroups.Against the backdrop of a long-term decline in union membership over the last four decades, the report paints a picture of relative stability in trade union membership and an increasing awareness of the influence of unions in recent years.There is also a representation gap, particularly among those who are arguably most vulnerable. In 2024, approximately one in four (27%) employees in Britain were trade union members, a decline of almost 20 percentage points since 1986.Over half of employees work at unionised organisations and these unions are, in a large part, recognised by management for the purposes of negotiating pay and conditions. The perceived influence of unions on the organisation of work has been increasing steadily among both members and non-members since 2012.Recent increases in the perceived influence of unions have been restricted to public sector employees, arguably reflecting the concentration of strikes in that sector. Over a third of employees working in non-unionised organisations report that they would vote to establish a union if they were given the chance.A third state that they would not vote to establish a union, whilst another third were undecided. The level of unmet demand for union representation within non-unionised organisations increases to a half among those aged 20-29.Among the LGBTQ+ community, 6 out of 10 would vote to establish a union if given the chance.Those who suffer from long term ill-health conditions are also more likely to vote to establish a union, with this rate increasing according to the severity of their ill-health condition.