Australian workers are on collective agreements in record numbers and securing stronger wage growth outcomes, according to new wage data released by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
The March 2025 Trends in Enterprise Bargaining report shows that employees covered by collective agreements grew to the highest on record, at 2.67 million, up from 2.14 million in March 2024.
Employees covered by union-negotiated agreements received an average annualised wage increase of 3.8%, well above the current inflation rate of 2.4% and significantly higher than the 3.2% for employees on non-union agreements. This marks the sixth consequence quarter of real wage growth for employees on collective agreements.
According to the latest ABS data, 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.
A high surge in union membership meant that a record number of people were coming together to win higher wages, said Australian Council of Trade Unions Secretary Sally McManus.
“People are turning to unions because sticking together and acting collectively gets results. More Australians, especially young people, are joining unions and union members are earning more money.”
