Beyond the labour market: trade union models and social welfare in the European Union

This article analyses the broader social impact of trade unions in Europe by examining the relationship between union presence – measured in terms of union density and collective bargaining coverage – and multiple indicators of labour market and socioeconomic well-being. Using panel data for EU countries from 2005-2023, the study integrates measures of job quality (wages, working hours, involuntary part-time work and in-work poverty) with indicators of social welfare, including household income, inequality, risk of poverty, life expectancy and social expenditure. The findings are used to contribute to ongoing debates about the future of social dialogue in Europe by demonstrating that trade unions are not only labour market actors but also function as institutional pillars that sustain the resilience of the welfare state and of social cohesion. The article calls on scholars to pay renewed attention to the institutional conditions that enable unions to influence inclusive and equitable socioeconomic development.