Australia Yearbook - 2001

242 Year Book Australia 2001
Trade union membership
In August 1999, of 7,304,200 employees aged
15 and over, 26% were trade union members in
connection with their main job (table 6.42).
Of permanent employees, 31% were trade union
members. In comparison, 11% of casual
employees were trade union members.
Electricity, gas and water supply, and
Communication services were the most
unionised industries, with 50% and 48% of
employees respectively being trade union
members. Agriculture, forestry and fishing was
the least unionised (5% of employees).
As shown in graph 6.43, the proportion of
employees who were trade union members in
connection with their main job has been steadily
declining. Between August 1992 and August 1999,
the level of trade union membership reported
by employees declined by around 25%
(14 percentage points).
6.42 PROPORTION OF EMPLOYEES WHO WERE TRADE UNION MEMBERS—August 1998
Males
Females
Persons
Industry
%
%
%
Agriculture, forestry and fishing *3.5 *7.4 4.6
Mining 38.8 *0.0 35.3
Manufacturing 36.4 22.2 32.8
Electricity, gas and water supply 55.1 *25.9 50.1
Construction 28.5 *3.0 25.7
Wholesale trade 11.7 5.0 9.6
Retail trade 14.7 19.8 17.4
Accommodation, cafes and restaurants 8.3 11.6 10.1
Transport and storage 45.0 20.6 38.7
Communication services 55.8 33.3 48.3
Finance and insurance 24.0 30.0 27.5
Property and business services 10.5 8.8 9.7
Government administration and defence 45.8 35.6 41.2
Education 49.9 43.9 45.8
Health and community services 30.7 30.7 30.7
Cultural and recreational services 17.6 13.6 15.7
Personal and other services 40.4 18.8 30.5
All industries 27.7 23.4 25.7
Source: Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership (6310.0).
6.43 PROPORTION OF ALL EMPLOYEES WHO WERE TRADE UNION MEMBERS
IN MAIN JOB
%
60
Males
10
Females
0
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Source: Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (6310.0).
50
40
30
20