The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is responsible, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for publishing the National Statistics on trade union membership.

Estimates are presented for the proportion of people in employment who are trade union members in both the United Kingdom and Great Britain, and for employees whose pay and conditions are affected by collective agreements. We also provide trade union densities by age, sex, ethnicity, income, full and part-time employment, sector, nation and region.

The latest trade union membership publication contains annual estimates of trade union densities for employees and all workers from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for the fourth quarter of 2009. Further information is available here.

Previous trade union membership articles are also available here.

Statistical Release Timetable

The report is an annual publication and its timing is predetermined and pre-announced (Click here to view) in accordance with the arrangements for releasing National Statistics.

Recipients of the report prior to the release date

The report is made available 24 hours ahead of publication to the following:

• Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills


• Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills


• Minister for Postal Affairs and Employment Relations

Information on National Statistics, the Labour Market as well as relevant data can be obtained from the ONS website.

ONS - publications hub

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