Labor unions narrowly maintain 20% unionization rate in 2002

According to a basic survey on labor unions for 2002, the results of which were released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare at the end of 2002, there were 10,801,000 union members in Japan. The estimated unionization rate was 20.2%, down 0.5 percentage points over the previous year, renewing the worst-yet record for 27 consecutive years. The survey was conducted in June 2002.

The number of union members, according to the National Center of Trade Unions, was 6,945,000 for Rengo, or the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (down 2.5% over the previous year); 1,018,000 for Zenroren, or the National Confederation of Trade Unions (up 0.6% over the previous year); and 172,000 for Zenrokyo, or the National Trade Union Council (down 31.4% over the previous year).

In terms of the number of members by industrial union, the manufacturing sector had the most members with 3,109,000 (29% of the total of organized workers), followed by the service, transport/telecommunications, and public service sectors, in that order.

As for the industry-specific unionization rate, the public service as well as the utility sectors (electricity, gas, heating, and water) enjoyed high rates of 58.7% and 57.1%, respectively. Industries with unionization rates below 10% included the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors (3.8%), and the wholesale/retail and restaurant sectors (8.6%).

A total of 8,359,000 union members worked for private-sector corporations, 335,000 fewer than the previous year. By corporate size, companies with 1,000 or more employees had the most union members (4,835,000 members, or 57.8% of the total of private-sector organized workers), followed by companies with 300 to 999 employees (1,320,000 members), companies with 100 to 299 employees (781,000 members), companies with 30 to 99 employees (286,000 members), and companies with 29 employees or fewer (43,000 members). Companies with 1,000 or more employees suffered the largest drop in the unionization rate (a loss of 244,000 members).

These figures show that, despite various labor unions' vigorous efforts to acquire new members, the unionization rate may very soon slip below the 20% mark.