Brazil’s Union Membership Ticks Up to 8.9% in 2024, IBGE Reports

Overview

• IBGE’s PNAD shows 9.1 million union members out of 101.3 million employed in 2024, an increase of about 812,000 from 2023.
• Union density has fallen 7.2 percentage points since 2012, sliding from 16.1% to 8.9% despite the latest uptick.
• Industry edged up to 11.4% unionization, agriculture slipped to 14.8%, and public administration posted the highest rate at 15.5%.
• Regional and demographic gaps persist, with the South at 9.8% and Center-West at 6.9%, and men at 9.1% versus women at 8.7%.
• Unionization remains concentrated among higher‑educated workers at 14.2%, while public‑sector employees reach 18.9% and domestic workers record 2.6%.