Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes? The voluntary sector workforce over the last decade

Today sees the launch of our latest research on the work and workforce of the voluntary sector: The UK Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac 2011, in partnership with Skills - Third Sector and TSRC. It’s been four years since we last produced such a detailed exploration of the sector’s workforce and the political, economic and societal landscape has changed considerably. During this time some characteristics of the sector’s workforce have changed significantly whilst others have stayed remarkably consistent.

First off, what has changed?

The most striking change that has happened to the voluntary sector workforce over the last decade has been the level of growth in the number of paid employees: a 40% increase between 2001 and 2010 leading to a total paid workforce of three-quarters of a million (765,000) employees. Whilst there was a steady growth between 2001 and 2007, between 2007 and 2010 the growth rate has increased significantly. This growth has been led by the increased role that the sector has played in public service delivery, in particular health and social care in which over half (57%) of the sector’s workforce is employed.

There has also been a continued increase in the number of voluntary sector employees with a degree, an estimated 37% by the end of 2010, with nearly three-quarters (73%) holding an A Level qualification or higher. This highly educated workforce is perhaps one of the most striking characteristics for those with misconceptions about the sector.

So what has stayed the same?

There are characteristics of the sector’s workforce though which, throughout the substantial changes that have been taking place within the voluntary sector over the last ten years, have not altered.

In particular, whilst the overall numbers of men and women employed in the sector have both seen a yearly increase over the last decade, the relative proportion of each in the sector has remained relatively static with women continuing to make up the majority of the workforce (68%).

 
Similarly, whilst the number of people working part-time in the voluntary sector has increased by 87,000 over the last ten years, the proportion of the sector’s workforce who are employed part-time has only increased by 1%.

We will continue to explore the characteristics of the sector’s workforce in the future and will let you know the changes as they develop.
For the latest information on the main traits of voluntary sector employment, including its size and characteristics, the nature of working conditions within the sector, and the levels of skills and training across the sector please download the Workforce Almanac.

Jenny Clark