A hike in union membership by almost 200,000 members (12.5%) from 2022 to 2024 has been powered by growth among young workers, new data shows.

Union membership now stands at 1.58 million, up from 1.4 million, based on ABS data showing the biggest increase in union membership since the ABS has collected this data.

Women continue to make up the majority of union members at 54.1% but the gap with men has narrowed slightly, closing by 0.5%.

The largest union growth was among workers aged 15-24 years (up 53%) followed by workers aged 25-34 (up 22%). This has skewed the median age of the typical union member from 46 years to 44 years old.

Workers aged 18-29 are also the most likely age group to say they intend to join their union in the next 12 months, according to separate Australian Unions’ research.

The significant rise in union membership over the last two years was the largest in two generations and had been driven by young people, said ACTU Secretary Sally McManus.

“They are the future and are demanding better pay and respect at work. In a cost-of-living crisis, people are joining unions to secure those higher wages.”

Union members earn $251 per week more than non-union members, around $1,600 for union members compared to $1,349 for non-union members. They also earn $9.30 an hour more.

“All workers benefit from the growth in union membership, as union-negotiated enterprise agreements consistently deliver better pay and conditions than non-union agreements,” said Ms McManus.