A turning point for trade unions? Insights from the latest statistics

The latest UK trade union statistics show an interesting shift in a long-established trend. While overall membership remains significantly lower than the peak in the 1970s, recent figures indicate that union membership is now increasing again, suggesting a changing landscape in UK industrial relations.

According to the Department for Business and Trade’s latest bulletin, the number of union members rose by 192,000 in 2025 to 6.6 million, with overall membership density increasing from 22.0% in 2024 to 22.4% in 2025.

This upward movement sits against a longer-term decline. Membership peaked at 13.2 million in 1979, before falling through the 1980s and early 1990s. Although the decline has slowed in recent decades, the overall direction has remained downward. The most recent figures therefore point to a potential turning point, with steady, incremental growth emerging.

Public v private sector

The recovery in union membership is not evenly distributed across the workforce. The public sector continues to dominate both in terms of total membership and union density:

• In 2025, public sector membership increased by 116,000 to 4.0 million while private sector membership rose by 76,000 to 2.5 million
• 48.5% of public sector employees are union members, while 12.1% of private sector employees are union members.
• Around 19.5% of jobs in the private sector had pay set with reference to a collective bargaining agreement compared with nearly 90% in the public sector.

This reflects long-standing structural differences. Historically, most of the decline in union membership since the mid-1990s has occurred in the private sector, whereas the public sector has seen more relative stability and now growth. Some private sector organisations may as a result still have limited exposure to unionised environments, while many in the public or quasi-public sectors already operate in a highly unionised context.

Who is most likely to be unionised?

The statistics also highlight clear patterns in the types of workers and workplaces where trade union membership is most prevalent.

28.1% of employees in workplaces with more than 50 employees are union members (with 65.4% having a union presence), compared with 15.2% in smaller workplaces (with 31.9% having a union presence). This suggests that collective organisation remains easier to establish and sustain in larger employers.

Last year union membership was highest in the following industries:

• Education (47.4%)
• Public administration and defence (38.9%)
• Health and social work (36.9%)
• Transportation and storage (33.2%).

Geography also plays an important role in union membership levels. Across the UK, membership density remains highest in Northern Ireland (32.4%), followed by 29.4% in Scotland and 29.3% in Wales. This is in comparison to England with 21.0%, where there is further regional variation. These regional differences highlight the importance of context for employers, particularly those operating across multiple UK jurisdictions.

Other statistics from the recent report include:

• Those working in professional occupations are particularly well represented - they account for 43.6% of union members but only 28.2% of the UK workforce overall
• Graduates are more likely to be in a union: 65% of union members have a degree or equivalent, compared to 52% of non-union employees and 54% of all employees
• 43% of members have been with their current employer for 10 years or more, compared with 24% of non-union members.

Why union membership levels may continue to rise

Looking ahead, there are strong reasons to expect that union membership will continue to increase.

A key driver is the forthcoming reforms under the Employment Rights Act 2025. As discussed in our previous blog, Employment Rights Act 2025: a new era of industrial relations | Brodies LLP , the reforms are expected to strengthen the role of trade unions in the workplace and make it easier for them to organise and recruit members.

While the precise impact remains to be seen, the direction of travel is clear. Increased protections, enhanced rights around recognition and industrial action and a broader policy focus on collective representation are all likely to make unions more prominent in the UK employment landscape.

Against that backdrop, the recent uptick in membership may not simply be a short-term fluctuation, but the early stages of a longer-term shift.

Workbox by Brodies

As trade union activity continues to evolve, it will be increasingly important for employers to stay informed and prepared.

Workbox by Brodies includes practical guidance on union recognition and responding to industrial action, with resources designed to support employers at every stage: from day-to-day engagement through to dispute resolution. This content is kept under regular review to reflect ongoing legislative reforms. To arrange a short Workbox demo, please get in touch.