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| SCOTTISH
SECTOR PROVIDING HUGE BOOST TO EMPLOYMENT |
23/02/04 |
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The
Scottish charity sector is expanding its job opportunities at the rate of
4,000 new positions per year, according to latest research.
The Scottish Voluntary Sector Almanac, published as part of the celebrations
for The Gathering (Scotland 's first voluntary sector fair) shows this rate
of growth has been sustained over the last five years, and that the sector
employs a far greater proportion of the country's workforce than was previously
recognised.
Workforce size has been measured at 107,000 paid staff working in the Scottish
voluntary sector - a figure equivalent to 4.6% of all employees in Scotland
- with an annual turnover of £2.1bn.
Accounting for the growth, Ruchir Shah, SCVO researcher and author of the
Almanac says: "The sector has been growing, particularly through the increased
role of larger organisations in delivering public services.
"This has contributed the sustained rate of growth in employment that
we have seen over the last five years which has seen the workforce expand
by one-sixth.
"Additionally the sector is a modern employer that has as one of its priorities
the work-life balance of its employees. It is certainly well ahead of other
sectors in offering more opportunities for job-share and other flexible
working patterns."
SCVO's chief executive Martin Sime says: "At a time when Scotland seems
to be shedding jobs it is good to know that our sector continues it's impressive
growth.
"Add these paid employees to the one million people who volunteer every
year for the voluntary organisations and the sector mobilises one-fifth
of the Scottish population in activity that grows and supports civil society,
making it the most positive force for change in Scotland today."
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