The voluntary sector’s paid workforce grew by 6% over the calendar year 2011/12 according to the latest figures.

The most recent analysis of the Labour Force Survey shows a total of 804,000 paid employees in the sector, the second highest total since records began.

However, this increase occurred at a time when resource constraints and increased demand for services have put pressure on many organisations in the sector.

The analysis shows that an extra 45,000 individuals joined the voluntary sector workforce over the 12 months to December 2012.

This compares with an extra 436,000 individuals joining the private sector workforce and a further 45,000 individuals joining the public sector workforce.

Whilst overall employment in the voluntary sector grew over this period, it has remained unchanged at 2.7% of total employment in the UK since 2010.

This compares with the private sector which has risen to 73.3% of total employment and the public sector which has fallen to 24% of total employment.

Female employees continue to account for nearly two-thirds (65.4%) of the voluntary sector workforce.

However, the proportion of the workforce which is female fell by 3.5% over the 12 months to December 2012.

The vast majority of the increase in employment over the year was among male employees, with an additional 42,000 men joining the voluntary sector workforce.

Part-time employees still represent over a third (36.6%) of the voluntary sector workforce.

However, the numbers doing so because they could not find full-time employment increased by 29% over 2011/12.

Equally, the voluntary sector still contains a higher proportion of non-permanent employees (11.7%) than in other sectors.

The proportion of non-permanent job roles created increased by 13.4%, compared with an increase of just 4.3% in permanent job roles.

Meanwhile, the number of voluntary sector employees who reported that they had received job-related training or education in the last 3 months decreased by 3.9% over 2011/12.

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).

Skills -Third Sector is the registered charity working to make it easier for people who work and volunteer in charities and social enterprises to have the right skills to make a difference to people and their communities.

The findings come as part of an ongoing study being conducted by these three organisations into overall voluntary sector workforce trends.

Keith Mogford, chief executive of Skills - Third Sector, said: “These figures show that the sector is continuing to maintain its employment levels in tough times. The number of non-permanent jobs being created is a concern and suggests that many employers are waiting for the economy to pick up.

"The sector’s people are its most valuable resource and despite tough times the sector should recognise the importance of continuing to invest in that resource. We urge employers to get involved with us in designing the Skills Platform to help share skills and resources essential for a sustainable workforce.”

Karl Wilding, director of public policy at NCVO, added: “Looking at the trends over a year there are some positive signs about employment in the sector. Of course the headlines don’t reflect the reality for some staff and employers who have struggled over the last year, but overall, an increasing number of staff in the sector is to be welcomed.

"This, along with recent positive indications about volunteering levels, suggests charities are rising to the challenge of supporting the increasing number of people who need their help.”

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