State-registered unions affiliated with the Queensland Council of Unions attracted 11,848 new members in 2017-18, lifting numbers to 271,945.

That was a rise of 4 per cent on the previous year.

The largest growth was in the Electrical Trades Union (2897 more members); United Voice (2365 more); and the Australasian Meat Industry Union of Employees Queensland branch (1957 more).

The figures were revealed in the Annual Report of the President of the Industrial Court of Queensland.

Queensland Council of Unions general secretary Ros McLennan attributed the growth in membership to momentum from the Change the Rules campaign, which aimed to win pay rises for workers to keep up with cost of living.

"We've had a wide range of well-supported community activities in the past few months, like the national doorknock and the regional Queensland rallies just last week," she said.

"The level of activity has been massive and it's clear that more people are engaging with unions and getting involved to support and join their union.

"As Queensland looms as a critical battleground in the imminent federal election, I'm sure replacement Prime Minister Scott Morrison would envy a similar boost to his stocks."

There were decreases in membership at non-QCU affiliated unions, The Australian Workers' Union (down 10,688); the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association Queensland branch (-1169); and the CFMMEU (-1364).

There was also an overall increase in membership at employer organisations, which included the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the National Retail Association, with members growing by 1664 to 27,919.