The paper starts by explaining the methodology used to calculate trade union membership used by BIS. It then explains the importance of using imputation when calculating trade union membership. It then explains the sampling variance and how this needs to be taken into account when using the LFS

 

It then looks at changes in trade union membership using trade union density and the composition of the workforce for a number of variables.  These variables are: gender; full-time vs part-time; establishment size; industry; UK regions; occupations; changes due to age; private vs public sector; trade union coverage; and trade union presence.

 

However, it warns against relying solely on using trade union density to explain changes in trade union membership.

 

The initial analysis showed that the manufacturing sector was most effected by loss of union membership and employment. Therefore this sector was analysed in greater detail. This analysis showed that 637,420 union members were lost from this sector, and 1.2 million jobs were also lost during the same period – see 4.6.1 Manufacturing

 

The paper concludes by stating that we can say the decline in union membership came primarily from the core working age group and the manufacturing occupations.

 

See White Paper: Overview of Change in Trade Union Membership White Paper Complete