Quarterly Labour Force survey figures published

New statistics released on Friday 8 February reveal the VCS’s paid workforce is increasingly made up of temporary employees, growing numbers of people unable to work the hours they would like, and fewer staff benefitting from on-the-job training.

The number of paid employees in the voluntary sector increased by approximately 18,000 over July to September 2012, the latest period for which data is available via the quarterly Labour Force Survey (LFS), and by 69,000 over the 12 months previously. However, the latest LFS findings also reveal more insecure forms of employment in the sector, with higher levels of part-time work and lower levels of permanent employment than in other sectors.

Employees remain more likely to work on a part-time basis in the VCS (37.4% of the workforce) than in either the public or the private sector, with the numbers doing so because they could not find a full-time job increasing by 15,000 (36%) over the past 12 months. The proportion of VCS employees employed on a permanent basis (87.6% of the workforce) is also lower than in either the private sector or the public sector (94.3% and 92% respectively).

Additionally, the number of employees who reported receiving training only during paid working hours decreased by nearly a quarter (24.8%) over the previous 12 months and the number of employees who reported receiving training in the four weeks leading up to survey fell by 11,000 (8.2%) compared with the previous quarter.

These latest Labour Force Survey findings were produced by Skills – Third Sector in partnership with the Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). The findings come as part of an ongoing study being conducted by these three organisations into overall voluntary sector workforce trends.

Dame Mary Marsh is currently leading a review into leadership and skills in the voluntary sector, following her appointment by Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society, last October. The review is examining how effectively existing support is meeting the requirements of the sector, and VCS organisations, and organisations working with them, are being actively encouraged to share ideas and experiences, and ask questions. To join the conversations visit www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/dame-mary-marsh-social-sector-skills-le...

The increase in the VCS’s total number of employees represents an increase of 2.3% over the quarter and an increase of 9.6% over 12 months, although it still represents 2.7% of the total UK workforce. The latest estimates indicate a total of 793,000 paid employees working in the VCS towards the end of last year.