In 2023, around 68 percent of employees in the public sector had their pay and conditions negotiated for them by a union. In comparison, this figure was 15.4 percent for the private sector. Overall, both sectors see a trend of decrease over this time period.
Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector
Characteristic
Private sector
Public sector
All employees
2023
15.4%
68%
29.9%
2022
13.1%
61.6%
26.5%
2021
13.7%
58.3%
25.9%
2020
13.7%
57.1%
25.6%
2019
15.1%
60.1%
26.9%
2018
14.7%
58.9%
26%
2017
15.3%
57.6%
26%
2016
15%
59%
26.3%
2015
16.1%
60.7%
27.9%
2014
15.4%
60.7%
27.5%
2013
16.6%
63.7%
29.5%
2012
16.1%
63.7%
29.3%
2011
17%
67.8%
31.2%
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%
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Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector
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GOV.UK. (June 5, 2024). Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved April 29, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/
GOV.UK. "Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector." Chart. June 5, 2024. Statista. Accessed April 29, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/
GOV.UK. (2024). Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: April 29, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/
GOV.UK. "Proportion of Employees Whose Pay and Conditions Were Agreed in Negotiations between The Employer and a Trade Union in The United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by Sector." Statista, Statista Inc., 5 Jun 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/
GOV.UK, Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/ (last visited April 29, 2025)
Proportion of employees whose pay and conditions were agreed in negotiations between the employer and a trade union in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2023, by sector [Graph], GOV.UK, June 5, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/287297/uk-collective-agreement-coverage/
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