Trade Union Membership Down 5% Over 12 Months To August 2007:
ABS
Almost one in five employees (19% or 1.7 million people) were trade union members
in conjunction with their main job in August 2007, according to figures released today
by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This was a fall of 89,600 from the previous year. The proportion of employees who
were trade union members also decreased from 20% to 19% over the same period.
The ABS also found that a higher proportion of full-time employees were trade union
members than part-time employees (21% compared with 14%), as were public sector
employees compared to those in the private sector (41% compared with 14%).
Employees earned, on average, $916 in their main job. Mean weekly earnings in their
main job was $1,126 for full-time employees and $412 for part-time employees. Male
full-time employees earned, on average, $1,212 in their main job, compared to $971
for female full-time employees.
Other findings on earnings in main job included:
The Australian Capital Territory had the highest mean weekly earnings
($1,122), while Tasmania had the lowest ($773).
The mining industry had the highest mean weekly earnings for full-
time employees ($1,772), while accommodation and food services had
the lowest ($781).
The age group with the highest mean weekly earnings for full-time
employees was 35-44 year olds ($1,284), while the lowest was 15-19
year olds ($493).
Three-quarters (75%) of employees¹ were entitled to paid holiday leave and/or paid
sick leave in their main job. Other findings on leave entitlements included:
The proportion of full-time employees¹ with paid leave entitlements
was 89%, compared with 43% of part-time employees¹.
The age group with the highest proportion of employees¹ with paid
leave entitlements was 45-54 year olds (83%), while the lowest was
15-19 year olds (34%), partly reflecting the higher proportion of part-
time employees in the latter category.
Further information can be found in Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union
Membership, Australia, August 2007 (cat. no. 6310.0).
Media Note:
1. Excluding those employees who were owner managers of incorporated enterprises.
NEWS 
