TEK is still the second largest member union of Akava. According to Akava's membership data, its largest affiliate is the Trade Union of Education in Finland (Opetusalan Ammattijärjestö OAJ, 107,698 members), the second largest is TEK (83,678 members) and the third largest is the Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (Insinööriliitto IL, 76,577 members). The top three are the same as in 2025.
TEK's membership increased by 2,251 members from last year.
“I am truly pleased that TEK increased its membership the most in absolute numbers last year. Although there is still much to develop and there is always room for improvement, we take this as a sign of trust in our work from our members,” says Jari Jokinen, CEO of TEK.
“According to a study conducted by Taloustutkimus last year, TEK is indeed the most respected and attractive professional union,” Jokinen continues.
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Akava's ten largest affiliates by membership
| Union | Number of members |
| Trade Union of Education in Finland (OAJ) | 107,698 |
| Academic Engineers and Architects in Finland TEK | 83,678 |
| Union of Professional Engineers in Finland (IL) | 76,577 |
| The Finnish Business School Graduates SEFE (Ekonomit) | 58,285 |
| Union of Professional Business Graduates in Finland TRAL (Tradenomit) | 34,146 |
| Finnish Medical Association (Lääkäriliitto) | 30,159 |
| Union of Professional Social Workers (Talentia) | 27,005 |
| Akava Special Branches (Akavan Erityisalat) | 23,970 |
| The Union of Professionals in Natural, Environmental, Food and Forestry Sciences Loimu | 22,892 |
| Association of Finnish Lawyers (Juristiliitto) | 15,730 |
At the beginning of 2026, the number of members of Akava unions was 619,090, which is 4 834 less than in the previous year and represents a 0.8 percent decrease. The last time membership declined was in 2018. In Akava’s press release (in Finnish), Akava’s President Maria Löfgren estimates that the end of the tax deduction for trade union membership fees is, to some extent, affecting membership decisions also within Akava-affiliated unions.
There are 127,914 student members in Akava's member unions who are studying at universities and universities of applied sciences. The number of student members increased by 0.4 percent, i.e., by 510.
Akava now has 35 member unions following the merger of the Finnish Association of Academic Agronomists into Loimu at the start of 2026.
Akava's Board of Directors confirmed the membership of the unions on 24 February 2026.