Type of industry

Agriculture was the industrial sector suffering the steepest percentage fall in union density in 1999 -dropping from 12% to 9%. But a more significant change in terms of numbers is the drop in manufacturing, where only 28% of employees were union members in 1999 compared to 30% in 1998.

1999 1998

Agriculture, fishing 9% 12%

Utilities, mining etc 47% 48%

Manufacturing 28% 30%

Construction 21% 21%

Retail, hotels,

catering 10% 10%

Transport,

communications 42% 42%

Finance, business

services 17% 18%

Public admin, health,

education 51% 51%

Other services 22% 21%

Source: Today's trade unionists, TUC