Union Membership Declines to 15% in Netherlands, Young Workers Expected to Boost Numbers
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands – In a report released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), the country’s trade union membership has dipped to a mere 15% among workers aged 15 to 75, marking a significant decline from 18% in 2018. The figures highlight a trend of diminishing union participation across various age groups, with the most substantial decrease among the 55-to-65 age bracket.
According to the CBS, the decline has been steady, dropping from 18.4% in 2018 to 17.5% in 2020, 16.3% in 2022, and reaching 15.4% last year. The report indicates that union membership tends to increase with age, peaking in the 55-to-65 demographic. However, this group experienced the most substantial decrease, with membership dropping from 31% in 2018 to 18% last year.
Union density also decreased among 45-to-55-year-olds, from 22 to 18% between 2018 and 2023. While younger age groups saw a decline in union membership, the decrease was less pronounced. The average age of a union member in the Netherlands was 47 last year.
Despite the downward trend, the trade union CNV has reported an increase in membership, particularly among younger workers. CNV chairman Piet Fortuin told ANP that the CBS figures are outdated, as they only account for data up to the end of March 2023. Since then, the union has gained more members in the 25 to 44 age range, as well as an increasing number of students under 25 who are free members of CNV.
The CBS report also notes variations in union membership across different sectors. The highest membership rates are found in public administration (27%), education (26%), and transport and storage (24%). Conversely, the information and communication sector, specialist business services, and the hospitality industry have the lowest union membership rates, all at 7%.
Employees working for large companies are more likely to join a trade union, with 20% of those at companies with over 1,000 workers being union members, compared to just 9% in small businesses with up to five employees. Permanent employees are twice as likely to be union members as flexible workers, with respective rates of 18% and 9%.
As the labor landscape evolves, the potential increase in young workers signing up for unions could signal a shift in the dynamics of the Dutch labor market, with implications for both employers and employees.
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