Statistics: Volunteering In The United States, 2010

Sat, 02/05/2011 - 09:00 | Sarah Palmer

Every Share Helps!

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on volunteering in the United States for FY2010.

Age

Those aged 35 to 44 comprised the largest set of the volunteer population, at 32.2%:

16 to 24: 21.9%
25 to 34: 21.9%
35 to 44: Reported above
45 to 54: 30.3%
55 to 64: 27.2%
65+: 23.6%

Sex

While women volunteered more than men, the number of women volunteering in 2010 decreased by .8%. The number of men volunteering decreased by .1%. Overall, 62,790 individuals of both sexes reported volunteer activity involvement.

Race

While the number of individuals volunteering decreased in 2010 compared to 2009, reported race percentages stayed relatively static to recent years:

White: 27.8%
Black or African American: 19.4%
Asian: 19.6%
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity: 14.7%

Education

Level of education was an indicator of likelihood to volunteer—only 8.8% of those with less than a high school diploma volunteered last year, though the number jumped dramatically for those with a high school diploma (17.9%), those with some college or an Associate’s degree (29.2%), and finally those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher (42.3%).

Employment

Those employed full-time were less likely to volunteer than those working part-time, at 28.2% and 33.2%, respectively. Those who were unemployed were less likely to volunteer, at 23.8%.

Hours and Types of Work

According to the BLS, volunteers spent a median of 52 hours annually on service activities. Most worked with one to two organizations, indicating loyalty; most worked with religious groups, followed by education/youth services, and then social/community service.

For more statistics and notes, please refer to the BLS survey of Volunteering in the United States, 2010.