Based on an analysis conducted by the German Institute for Economics (IW) using data from the European Social Survey, unionization rates in Germany showed concerning trends in 2023. Overall, only barely one in six employees in Germany belongs to a union.
Significant variations were observed across different age groups. While the rate among those aged 16 to 30 numbered less than eleven percent, the proportion among individuals over 50 was markedly higher, reaching nearly 18 percent.
When viewed against European standards, Germany ranks in the middle. Scandinavia reports significantly higher levels of organized workers, while countries such as France, Poland, and Hungary show rates below ten percent.
The data also reveals disparities based on personal characteristics and sectors. Gender gaps exist, with men being more organized (18.3 percent) than women (14.7 percent). Furthermore, workers without a migration background had a higher union membership rate (18.1 percent) compared to those with a migration background (12.7 percent).
Sectoral divisions are also pronounced: in the manufacturing industry, nearly one in five employees belonged to a union, while the service sector showed a considerable gap, with only one in seven members organized.