Changes in union density in the Nordic countries
(2025) In Nordic Economic Policy Review 2025(1). p.123-149- Abstract
- Over the last 25 to 30 years, union density has experienced a significant decline in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, while remaining relatively stable in Norway and completely unchanged in Iceland. In the first three countries, the weakening of Ghent systems (state-subsidised union unemployment funds) stands out as the primary factor contributing to union decline. In Sweden, this trend is further exacerbated by widening disparities between blue-collar and white-collar union density. This study analyses both the historically high union density in the Nordic region and the notable decline in certain countries, focusing on five key features of Nordic industrial relations and their evolution. Additionally, the impact of situational factors and... (More)
- Over the last 25 to 30 years, union density has experienced a significant decline in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, while remaining relatively stable in Norway and completely unchanged in Iceland. In the first three countries, the weakening of Ghent systems (state-subsidised union unemployment funds) stands out as the primary factor contributing to union decline. In Sweden, this trend is further exacerbated by widening disparities between blue-collar and white-collar union density. This study analyses both the historically high union density in the Nordic region and the notable decline in certain countries, focusing on five key features of Nordic industrial relations and their evolution. Additionally, the impact of situational factors and social customs is explored. Particular emphasis is placed on newcomers to the labour market, specifically immigrants and young people. In Norway and Sweden, the substantial influx of recently arrived immigrants poses challenges for union recruitment efforts. To effectively engage with immigrants and young people, maintaining a strong union presence in the workplace is crucial. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/d609719f-cbb8-4a6e-9775-02a096a5e491
- author
- Kjellberg, Anders LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-05-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- trade union, union, union density, Ghent system, situational factors, social customs, white-collar workers, blue-collar workers, unemployment fund, income insurance, immigrants, labour migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Nordic countries, tax reduction, tax deduction, collective agreement, state regulation, self-regulation, union workplace organisation, Swedish model, Nordic model, industrial relations, employers, strike rights, sociology, wage formation
- in
- Nordic Economic Policy Review
- volume
- 2025
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 27 pages
- publisher
- Nordiska ministerrådet
- ISSN
- 1904-8092
- project
- Den svenska modellen: fack, arbetsgivare och kollektivavtal
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- A power point presentation of the coming article was published after a peer review conference in Stockholm in October 2024 discussing the 2025 wage formation issue of the Nordic Economic Policy Review.
- id
- d609719f-cbb8-4a6e-9775-02a096a5e491
- date added to LUP
- 2025-05-03 18:21:53
- date last changed
- 2025-05-17 00:45:37
@article{d609719f-cbb8-4a6e-9775-02a096a5e491,
abstract = {{Over the last 25 to 30 years, union density has experienced a significant decline in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, while remaining relatively stable in Norway and completely unchanged in Iceland. In the first three countries, the weakening of Ghent systems (state-subsidised union unemployment funds) stands out as the primary factor contributing to union decline. In Sweden, this trend is further exacerbated by widening disparities between blue-collar and white-collar union density. This study analyses both the historically high union density in the Nordic region and the notable decline in certain countries, focusing on five key features of Nordic industrial relations and their evolution. Additionally, the impact of situational factors and social customs is explored. Particular emphasis is placed on newcomers to the labour market, specifically immigrants and young people. In Norway and Sweden, the substantial influx of recently arrived immigrants poses challenges for union recruitment efforts. To effectively engage with immigrants and young people, maintaining a strong union presence in the workplace is crucial.}},
author = {{Kjellberg, Anders}},
issn = {{1904-8092}},
keywords = {{trade union; union; union density; Ghent system; situational factors; social customs; white-collar workers; blue-collar workers; unemployment fund; income insurance; immigrants; labour migrants; asylum seekers; refugees; Denmark; Finland; Norway; Sweden; Iceland; Nordic countries; tax reduction; tax deduction; collective agreement; state regulation; self-regulation; union workplace organisation; Swedish model; Nordic model; industrial relations; employers; strike rights; sociology; wage formation}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{05}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{123--149}},
publisher = {{Nordiska ministerrådet}},
series = {{Nordic Economic Policy Review}},
title = {{Changes in union density in the Nordic countries}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/218634009/nord2025-001_Kjellberg_union_density.pdf}},
volume = {{2025}},
year = {{2025}},
}