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Research into the workforce

We are the national reference point for research into the voluntary sector’s workforce, known as labour market intelligence. We commission third sector partners and academic institutions to research the skills trends and priorities for voluntary sector organisations.

In partnership with national skills bodies, we identify and lead where new research is needed. This knowledge needs to be frequently updated because the size and requirements of the sector change in response to what it is called on to deliver.

New Workforce mini-Almanac published

We have recently published a new research report in partnership with NCVO and the Third Sector Research Centre. The report builds on the ‘work’ chapter of NCVO’s UK Civil Society Almanac 2010. You can download the report here (PDF).

The report summarises essential data and information about the people who make up the voluntary sector workforce as trustees, volunteers and paid staff.

Using labour market intelligence to plan training

We believe that skills development and training programmes should be planned and delivered after looking at the labour market intelligence so that skills programmes are based on what the sector needs. We are also working with other organisations to help make sure that labour market intelligence is understood and used in their work plans.

Other useful resources:

• The Voluntary Sector Skills Survey 2007 andExecutive Summary (the last time a survey was carried out specifically on skills in the sector)
• Research into skills gaps (the background information to the skills survey)
• Third Sector Skills Research 2008: Further evidence and recommendations (executive summary of the report that built on the 2007 skills survey)
• The NCVO UK Voluntary Sector Workforce Almanac 2007 (the picture of the sector’s size and characteristics between 1999 and 2005).

Print copies of the above publications can be purchased from the NCVO website.

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