Almost 10,000 members joined Fórsa in 2024. That’s more than double the average annual intake over the last decade. By the end of the year, our total membership had reached 89,344 with huge organising momentum in all divisions.

In 2024, the number of new joiners remained high, following a bumper year for recruitment in 2023. Recruitment was highest during periods of high participation and collective activity, including during the Public Service Agreement ballot in early spring.

In total, Fórsa has recruited around 67,000 new members since 2018. Today, more than half of all Fórsa members (45,000) have joined the union since the establishment of the Fórsa. 

Speaking about the figures Fórsa’s director of membership Seán McElhinnney said: “These figures are really promising. But they’re not just statistics. Behind every number is a person who has chosen to join our union to build collective strength and power. Well done to everyone who recruited new members and welcome to those of you who have recently joined us.”

Seán urged everyone to get involved in building their union, saying: “If you joined the union in the last year be sure to keep an eye out for your branch AGM, and any upcoming union events. You can also distribute this recruitment flyer in your workplace.”

In 2024 the Health and Welfare division recruited the most members, with almost 3,500 new recruits, with the Education and Civil Service divisions following closely behind, recruiting more than 2,500 and 2,200 members respectively. In health, recruitment was bolstered by workers joining Fórsa to participate in industrial disputes and campaigns to improve our members’ lives at work.

The Education division was the fastest growing division in the union and demonstrated overall growth of more than 8%. Growth in the division was boosted by a variety of promotional and industrial initiatives, and the coming together of four SNA branches to launch Ireland’s first-ever ‘SNA Appreciation Day’ in autumn last year. During that period nearly three times as many SNAs joined Fórsa compared with the same period in 2023.

The School Completion Programme branch also had a strong year, recruiting more than 40 new members and demonstrating overall branch growth of around 30%.

All four Fórsa SNA branches appeared in the top ten recruiting branches in the union, alongside Dublin Hospitals, Cork Health and Local Government, Cabin Crew, Dublin North and South Health and Welfare branches, and Galway Health and Local Government. The newly formed Revenue Clerical branch sat just outside the top ten, alongside the Dublin Care Services branch.

The Services and Enterprises Division was the second fastest growing division, with almost 1,000 new recruits throughout 2024, and it had an overall divisional growth of more than 7%. Of branches with fewer than 1,000 members, the State Enterprises No 1 branch was the highest recruiting branch in the union, adding more than 200 new recruits throughout the year.

The Local Government and Local Services division saw almost 800 new members join and has grown by more than 8% since 2022.

Musing over the figures Seán was quick to warn it wasn’t time to rest on our laurels.  

“There’s certainly a lot to celebrate here. However, it’s important to remember that each year, members also leave the union or retire,” he reflected.  

“So, while 10,000 new members joined in 2024, the net growth is closer to 4,000. That might temper the excitement of those figures slightly, but we’re actively working on a retired membership strategy. This will help ensure that the experiences of that generation of trade unionists are passed on to new members, preserving institutional knowledge and avoiding it being lost.” 

You can help build your union too! Download, display and distribute our new recruitment poster here.

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.