Norway: unionization on the wane, fewer than one in two workers was a union member in 2016

Is this the end of a myth? Research foundation Fafo has just published 2016 statistics showing that only 49% of Norway’s employees are members of a trade union. Flirting with the 50% threshold for several years this dip below is hardly a surprise but no less symbolic nonetheless. Confederation organization argue that the overall level is masking contrasting situations but nevertheless are fully aware of the situation and are studying ways of bucking the trend.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Contrasting realities. According to Fafo, in 2016 almost 1.2 million workers were members of a trade union, 118,000 more than in 2006. However given that the overall number of workers rose by 300,000 in the same period the proportion of union members actually fell from 50.5% in 2006 to 49% in 2016. However the reality may be somewhat different in so far as trade unions have changed over the past ten years. For instance both the UNIO (The Confederation of Unions for Professionals, Norway) and Ak

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Germany: a high-tension start to the social and political year
The German government must finalize its major reforms (pension funding, corporate competitiveness, and labor law) while the chancellor’s popularity hits an all-time low and three regional...
Sweden: IF Metall union forced to end industrial dispute with Tesla
The news. After three years of conflict, the Swedish union IF Metall announced it would suspend its strike actions against Tesla starting Wednesday, August 19, after the American automaker...
Canada: a sustainability due diligence proposal on forced labour submitted for consultation
The facts. On July 27, the Canadian government launched a consultation to introduce mandatory corporate due diligence measures regarding forced labor. It plans to require risk identification, the...
25 August 2026
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...
2
Sweden: IF Metall union forced to end industrial dispute with Tesla
The news. After three years of conflict, the Swedish union IF Metall announced it would suspend its strike actions against Tesla starting Wednesday, August 19, after the American automaker...
3
Germany: a high-tension start to the social and political year
The German government must finalize its major reforms (pension funding, corporate competitiveness, and labor law) while the chancellor’s popularity hits an all-time low and three regional...