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Skills in the third sector
The third sector is a major provider of skills and is also a significant employer.
Research shows that the third sector contributes significantly to the UK GDP and employs around 2% of the UK’s workforce, along with 11.6m regular volunteers and an estimated one million trustees.
Each of these people makes a hugely valued contribution to areas such as health, the environment and education.
NCVO Workforce Development’s research UK Voluntary Sector Skills Survey 2007 found that skills shortages and skills gaps are apparent across the sector, and that these have a detrimental impact on organisations.
The Executive Summary of the research (available to download from this page) highlights the key findings - which included a lack of time and funding for training and development were evident across the sector, but that employers in the sector acknowledged the importance of training their staff and volunteers.
Skills – Third Sector is committed to ensuring that third sector organisations have access to information, resources and support to ensure they can develop the skills of their organisation in an efficient, cost-effective way.
Information about the size, shape and characteristics of the third sector’s workforce is available in the UK Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac or in the Executive Summary.