Employee Trade Unions

Contact info

Labour Market, Social Statistics
Mikkel Zimmermann
+45 51 44 98 37

Get documentation of statistics as pdf

Employee Trade Unions 2024

The purpose of the statistics is to compile aggregated annual statistics showing the number of members of employee organisations with attachment to the labour market. The statistics been complied since 1994, but is in its current form comparable from 2007 and onwards.

Statistical presentation

The statistics provide an overview of the number of members of employee organisations with attachment to the labour market i.e. excl. trainees, retirees, early retirees and self-employed. The statistics are grouped by central organisations/individual organisations and gender. The statistics are published annually and disseminated in the newsletter Nyt fra Danmarks Statistik and in the StatBank.

Statistical processing

These statistics are based on annual reports from employees' organisations on the number of members attached to the labour market per December 31. Data are typically validated by comparing the current year’s reporting with that of previous years for each organisation. As of the reference date 31 December 2023, total membership figures are also reported for each organisation. These totals are then compared with the reported number of members with labour market affiliation per organisation to ensure consistency.

Relevance

Users of the statistics are typically employee and employer organisations, researchers and the media. No dissatisfaction has been expressed with the statistics.

Accuracy and reliability

The statistics are based on reports from Central Employee Organisations and other employee organisations. Not all employee unions are able to calculate the precise figures exclusive members not attached to the labor market, i.e.. students, early retirees and pensioners, and self-employed. The data are therefore believed to be a little overestimated for some organisations. On the other hand, there may be small employee organisations that are not included. The data are normally not revised, but if errors are detected they are corrected back in time as far as possible. Although participation in the statistics is voluntary, all employee organisations appear to submit data.

Timeliness and punctuality

The statistics are published 4-5 months after the reference date.

The statistics are usually published on the scheduled date without delay.

Comparability

The statistics have been compiled since 1994. Minor breaks in time series may occur when organisations change their reporting methods. The significant drop in membership figures for certain LO-affiliated organisations from 2011 to 2012 is due to previous reporting that included members without labour market affiliation. This has been partially corrected as of the publication on 18 May 2025, where figures for 2007–2011 were revised downwards for selected organisations.

Also, membership of the Central Organisations varies over time as the employee organisations can sign in and out of the Central Organisations. In addition, new employee organisations appear and other organisations disappear over time. Organisations are not always able to revise figures retrospectively.

Accessibility and clarity

The statistics is published yearly in a Danish press release (Nyt fra Danmarks Statistik) at the same time as the tables are updated in the StatBank. In the StatBank, the statistics ca be found under the subject Trade unions. For further information, go to the subject page.