TUC Equality Audit 2026
There have been significant changes in Britain since the last TUC Equality Audit of this kind in 2022. The composition of the workforce has continued to evolve, with migration contributing to more diversity across many sectors and occupations. At the same time, economic uncertainty and rapid social change have been accompanied by the growth of far-right and populist political movements that have sought to exploit concerns about migration, the cost of living and diversity for political gain.
The period has also been marked by important developments in workers’ rights. The Worker Protection Act came into effect in 2024, introducing a new duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the workplace. In the same year, the election of a Labour government heralded a new Employment Rights Act which was passed into law in December 2025. While it is too early for the impact of the latter to be felt in this audit, there is reason to hope that the stronger workplace protections and measures to support trade union organisation will contribute to further progress in union equalities work by the time of the next audit.
The TUC Equality Audit 2026 considers the steps unions have taken in the last four years to promote equality in their membership, structures and processes, and to ensure they reflect the diversity of their membership.
It also looks at the extent to which unions as employers provide equal opportunities for their own staff. It is complementary to the Equality Audit 2024, which looked at unions’ efforts to promote equality through collective bargaining.
Questionnaires were sent to the 47 unions affiliated to the TUC in November 2025, with a completion deadline of 2 February 2026. Completed questionnaires were received from 43 unions, which is 90 per cent of TUC affiliates. This is a higher response rate than for the last equivalent audit in 2022 when 41 out of 48 TUC affiliates participated (85 per cent).
The unions responding in 2026 represent 99 per cent of all TUC-affiliated union members (see Appendix). The audit data was collected and analysed by the Labour Research Department on behalf of the TUC.
The TUC Equality Audit 2026 considers the steps unions have taken in the last four years to promote equality in their membership, structures and processes.
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