Database Specific
Database Specific Abstract AbstractThe database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts (ICTWSS) has been developed by Prof. Jelle Visser at the University of Amsterdam. It was first released in May 2007. In its initial form, the ICTWSS database combined data from various sources and projects with a main focus on trade union in EU and OECD countries, collective bargaining and employment relations in Europe, and social pacts. In 2021, the ICTWSS database has been rebranded as the OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database. This new name reflects the joint effort by the OECD and AIAS-HSI to ensure the continuation of the database after Prof. Visser’s retirement. The OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database is publicly available at:
Source Source Contact person/organisation Contact person/organisation Name of collection/source Name of collection/sourceOECD/AIAS database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts (ICTWSS)
Data Characteristics Data Characteristics Date last updated Date last updated09 June, 2021
Periodicity PeriodicityAnnual
Unit of measure used Unit of measure usedPercentage of employees
Concepts & Classifications Concepts & Classifications Aggregation & consolidation Aggregation & consolidationOECD is an estimation based on the employee-weighted average of the 38 member countries.
Key statistical concept Key statistical conceptThe trade union density is defined as the number of net union members (i.e excluding those who are not in the labour force, unemployed and self-employed) as a proportion of the number of employees. Data reported in this Table refer to the UD_hist variable of the OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database and combine estimates based either on administrative sources or labour force surveys or both. For more information and full methodology, see:
Other Aspects Other Aspects Recommended uses and limitations Recommended uses and limitationsA “trade union” is defined as an organisation, consisting predominantly of employees, the principal activities of which include the negotiation of rates of pay and conditions of employment for its members. This definition does include employee organisations and professional associations, even when collective bargaining is not their main activity; however, it excludes associations who are dependent on employers, who reject collective in favour of individual representation, do not seek a role in negotiations, or consist mainly of self-employed persons.
The database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts (ICTWSS) has been developed by Prof. Jelle Visser at the University of Amsterdam. It was first released in May 2007. In its initial form, the ICTWSS database combined data from various sources and projects with a main focus on trade union in EU and OECD countries, collective bargaining and employment relations in Europe, and social pacts. In 2021, the ICTWSS database has been rebranded as the OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database. This new name reflects the joint effort by the OECD and AIAS-HSI to ensure the continuation of the database after Prof. Visser’s retirement. The OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database is publicly available at:
OECD/AIAS database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts (ICTWSS)
Percentage of employees
Annual
09 June, 2021
The trade union density is defined as the number of net union members (i.e excluding those who are not in the labour force, unemployed and self-employed) as a proportion of the number of employees. Data reported in this Table refer to the UD_hist variable of the OECD/AIAS ICTWSS database and combine estimates based either on administrative sources or labour force surveys or both. For more information and full methodology, see:
OECD is an estimation based on the employee-weighted average of the 38 member countries.
A “trade union” is defined as an organisation, consisting predominantly of employees, the principal activities of which include the negotiation of rates of pay and conditions of employment for its members. This definition does include employee organisations and professional associations, even when collective bargaining is not their main activity; however, it excludes associations who are dependent on employers, who reject collective in favour of individual representation, do not seek a role in negotiations, or consist mainly of self-employed persons.