Labor unions, or trade unions as they are known in Europe, are organizations formed by workers in order to represent their collective interests, particularly in relation to wages and working conditions. Historically, labor unions emerged during the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century to represent the interests of industrial workers, who flocked to work in factories, mines, and other growing manufacturing enterprises. In most high-income countries, labor unions reached their peak during the post-WWII period, when governments mediated between the interests of labor unions and the owners of capital. With the economic crises of the 1970s, however, the labor movement suffered historic defeats in Europe and North America, with union density declining rapidly in many countries due to a host of pro-market and anti-union policies which have come to be referred to as 'neoliberalism'. Labor unions today In the twenty-first century, labor unions have retreated from their key role in national economic decisions in many countries, as globalization has lowered barriers to movement of labor, enabled 'off-shoring' jobs to lower wage countries, and promoted the lowering of labor standards in order to pursue cost competitiveness. In spite of this trend, certain regions still showcase high levels of union density and retain their traditions of unions being involved in determining economic policy. Notably, the Nordic countries make up five of the top six most unionized countries, with Iceland in first place being followed by Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and then Norway.

Other notable trends among the top placed countries are states which have had a historical relationship with communism (often a key driver of the labor movement), such as Cuba, Vietnam, China, and Kazakhstan. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, labor unions and the wider labor movement has become more prominent, as workers have sought to fight for health & safety conditions in the workplace, as well as to combat high inflation related to the pandemic.

Source: 6333.0 - Characteristics of Employment, Australia, August 2016

Women form a lower level of union membership than men, this represents a major recruitment challenge to unions. Unions are currently employing a number of different tactics to recruit and involve women, this study aims to help refine those strategies. This study looks at areas such as: are women less pro-union than men, do they join unions for different reasons to men, do they use and are they as happy with their unions as men, are they less active in their unions than men and why and what can be done to increase their level of activism. This study surveyed union members in six unions in South Australia. The main variables were the respondents involvment in their respective unions, what motivated it, what restricted it and what unions could do to make things easier for members to be involved. The background variables are sex, age, occupation and income

Topics covered in this survey are chances of another World War and Australian involvement, totalisator betting in Victoria, number and source of migrants to Australia, consumer durables planning to buy, books read, control of trade union ballots, and the exchange rate between the Australian and English pound. Standard variables are vehicle and telephone ownership, religion, occupation, economic classification, age, sex, trade union membership, vote intention, and vote at last Federal election.

The Australia at Work Survey is the first in a series of surveys, funded by the Australian Research Council and Unions NSW, exploring changes and challenges of Australian working life. The survey explores employees' perceptions of their labour contract, working conditions and attitudes towards work, and life course transitions. The respondents in this survey were Australians in the Australian work force in March of 2006. The survey compares how their work situation changed in the period between March of 2006 and 2007. The Australia at Work survey includes questions regarding wages and working conditions. Some of these variables are employment status, earnings, working hours and preferences, working arrangements, the labour contract, union membership, industry, occupation and living standards. Background variables include age, sex, marital status, ethnicity, education, study, and number of dependent children. WRC will shortly be depositing a revised Wave 1 Australia at Work dataset and the Wave 2 Australia at Work dataset. The revision to the Wave 1 dataset relates to a change in the weighting strategy. In the dataset that is currently deposited with ADA, owner-managers of incorporated entities (OMIEs) were included as employees for weighting and analysis purposes. Whereas with the revised Wave 1 dataset (and subsequent waves of data), the weighting strategy includes owner-managers of incorporated entities (OMIEs) in the self-employed category.

This Gallup poll aims to collect the opinions of Canadians on such issues as politics, current events, trends and habits. Some of the questions also inquire about topics like the Trans-Canada Pipeline, marriage and funerals. Respondents were also asked questions so that they could be grouped according to geographic, demographic and social variables. Topics of interest include: the 30 hour work week; the Academy awards; awareness towards Australia; broadcasting regulation; the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC); dining out; doctors; federal elections; a two party electoral system; funerals; government competition; health care; hospital problems; husbands' faults; marriage; movies; phone ownership; preferred political parties; price trends; the Quebec provincial election; television's influence; the Trans-Canada pipeline; union membership; voting behaviour; and wives faults. Basic demographics variables are also included.

European Union Imports of percussion musical instruments from Australia was US$95.06 Thousand during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of percussion musical instruments from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

3 major objectives. ( 1 ): To replicate the 1965 base line study of Australian stratification and mobility SSDA study nr.7. ( 2 ): To get more insight into social mobility and social stratification in Australia beyond the fairly restricted findings of the 1965 baseline. ( 3 ): Comparison with both first and second generations of national surveys in other countries. Occupational history details are available for respondent, respondent's father, and respondent's children 21 years and over. All occupational variables have been coded according to the Australian census classification of occupations, 1971 and the Australian census classification of occupations by status score ( ANU2 )/ dates and duration of all study undertaken, and occupational data for several career points/ a special section for women on employment intentions and preferences/ and images of society and class ideology. Data also on age / birthplace / marital status / residence / ownership of house / characteristics of parental household and respondent's household / income / party preference / religion / consumption of durables / trade union membership / war service / internal / external control / job satisfaction / retirement. Background variables: basic characteristics/ place of birth/ residence/ housing situation/ household characteristics/ characteristics of parental family/household/ occupation/employment/ income/capital assets/ education/ social class/ politics/ religion/ consumption of durables

European Union Imports of mate from Australia was US$1.06 Thousand during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of mate from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

European Union Imports of tools for working in the hand from Australia was US$3.41 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of tools for working in the hand from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

European Union Imports of television receivers from Australia was US$4.51 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of television receivers from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

European Union Exports of cotton yarn (cotton content less than 85%) to Australia was US$9.89 Thousand during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Exports of cotton yarn (cotton content less than 85%) to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

European Union Imports of natural graphite from Australia was US$1.01 Thousand during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of natural graphite from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

European Union Exports to Australia was US$40.96 Billion during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Exports to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on December of 2025.

European Union Exports of machine tools for shaping, slotting, gear cut to Australia was US$12.92 Million during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Exports of machine tools for shaping, slotting, gear cut to Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

European Union Imports of matches from Australia was US$94 during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of matches from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

The 2019 Australian Election Study is the twelfth in a series of surveys. It covers the respondent's interest in the election campaign and politics, their past and present political affiliation, evaluation of parties and candidates, alignment with parties on various election issues, evaluation of the current economic situation, and attitudes to a range of election issues including global warming, taxation, education, unemployment, health and Medicare, refugees and asylum seekers, and population policy. Opinions on policy issues including pill testing, equal opportunities, and recognition of Indigenous Australians in the Constitution were also covered in the 2019 Australian Election Study. Background variables include level of education, employment status, occupation, type of employer, position at workplace, trade union membership, sex, age, own and parents' country of birth, parents' political preferences, religion, marital status, income, and where applicable, the occupation, trade union membership and political preference of the respondent's partner. The 2019 Australian Election Study is the first in the AES series to include a panel component. It is also the first panel survey concerned with political behaviour conducted in Australia since the 1967-69 Australian National Political Attitudes Surveys. User Notice: Please contact ADA to request access to the restricted postcode and demographic variables.

European Union Imports of copper springs from Australia was US$406.62 Thousand during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of copper springs from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.

The 'changing Australian' study sought information on the workforce, confidence in the ability of various leadership groups, the role of government in a changing society, and the quality of life. This data set is one part of this study, and includes responses from adults in the workforce. The other part (SSDA Study No. 156) uses a matched questionnaire and includes responses from leaders in business, government and trade unions. Variables in this data set include coping with everyday living, financial situation of household, seriousness of Australia's problems, confidence in Australia's economic future, identification with Australia, confidence in Australian institutions, management capability of top people, priorities for Federal Government, cause of and reducing unemployment, retrenching workers, inflation, power of trade unions/ big business/ Federal Government/ mass media, cooperation between government/ business/ labour, government spending and social welfare benefits, tax avoidance, tax rates, direct vs indirect taxation, taxation of lump sums, work-related benefits, whether actively seeking employment, attitudes to work, school education as a preparation for life, quality of life, holidays and travel, Australians' perceptions of overseas attitudes to Australia and Australians, whether well informed about public issues, commitment to ideas and causes, and working wives. Background variables are country of birth, length of current employment, occupation, whether work part-time or full-time, trade union membership, interest in politics, marital status, level of education, personal gross income, age group, sex and whether housewife, and telephone ownership.

European Union Imports of sign-plates from Australia was US$53.62 Thousand during 2024, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. European Union Imports of sign-plates from Australia - data, historical chart and statistics - was last updated on November of 2025.