For release 10:00 a.m. (EST) Wednesday, January 26, 2011 USDL-11-0084
Technical information: (202) 691-6378 * cpsinfo@bls.gov * www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact: (202) 691-5902 * PressOffice@bls.gov
VOLUNTEERING IN THE UNITED STATES--2010
The volunteer rate declined by 0.5 percentage point to 26.3 percent for the year
ending in September 2010, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About
62.8 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once be-
tween September 2009 and September 2010. The volunteer rate in 2010 was similar
to the rates observed in 2007 and 2008.
These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2010
Current Population Survey (CPS) . The supplement was sponsored by the Corporation
for National and Community Service. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000
households that obtains information on employment and unemployment among the na-
tion's civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Volunteers are defined
as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization.
For more information about the volunteer supplement, see the Technical Note.
Volunteering Among Demographic Groups
The volunteer rate of women decreased from 30.1 percent to 29.3 percent in the
year ending in September 2010, while the volunteer rate for men, at 23.2 percent,
was essentially unchanged. However, women continued to volunteer at a higher rate
than did men across all age groups, educational levels, and other major demographic
characteristics. (See tables A and 1.)
By age, 35-to-44 year olds were the most likely to volunteer (32.2 percent). Per-
sons in their early twenties were the least likely to volunteer (18.4 percent).
Among the major race and ethnicity groups, whites continued to volunteer at a
higher rate (27.8 percent) than did blacks (19.4 percent) and Asians (19.6 percent).
The volunteer rate of whites and blacks declined from the prior year. Among Hispan-
ics or Latinos, 14.7 percent volunteered in 2010, the same rate as in 2009.
As in earlier years, married persons volunteered at a higher rate (32.0 percent)
in 2010 than did those who had never married (20.3 percent) and those with other
marital statuses (20.9 percent). Although the volunteer rate of parents with
children under age 18 decreased to 33.6 percent from 34.4 percent in the prior
year, parents remained substantially more likely to volunteer than persons with-
out children (23.5 percent).
Individuals with higher levels of educational attainment engaged in volunteer
activities at higher rates than did those with less education. Among persons age
25 and over, 42.3 percent of college graduates volunteered, compared with 17.9
percent of high school graduates and 8.8 percent of those with less than a high
school diploma.
Table A. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2006 through September 2010
(Numbers in thousands)
September 2006 September 2007 September 2008 September 2009 September 2010
Percent Percent Percent Percent Percent
Number of popu- Number of popu- Number of popu- Number of popu- Number of popu-
lation lation lation lation lation
Sex
Total, both sexes ............... 61,199 26.7 60,838 26.2 61,803 26.4 63,361 26.8 62,790 26.3
Men .......................... 25,546 23.0 25,724 22.9 26,268 23.2 26,655 23.3 26,787 23.2
Women ........................ 35,653 30.1 35,114 29.3 35,535 29.4 36,706 30.1 36,004 29.3
Age
Total, 16 years and over ........ 61,199 26.7 60,838 26.2 61,803 26.4 63,361 26.8 62,790 26.3
16 to 24 years ............... 8,044 21.7 7,798 20.8 8,239 21.9 8,290 22.0 8,297 21.9
25 to 34 years ............... 9,096 23.1 9,019 22.6 9,154 22.8 9,511 23.5 9,140 22.3
35 to 44 years ............... 13,308 31.2 12,902 30.5 13,016 31.3 12,835 31.5 12,904 32.2
45 to 54 years ............... 13,415 31.2 13,136 30.1 13,189 29.9 13,703 30.8 13,435 30.3
55 to 64 years ............... 8,819 27.9 9,316 28.4 9,456 28.1 9,894 28.3 9,830 27.2
65 years and over ............ 8,518 23.8 8,667 23.8 8,749 23.5 9,129 23.9 9,184 23.6
Race and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity
White ........................... 52,850 28.3 52,586 27.9 53,078 27.9 54,078 28.3 53,556 27.8
Black or African American ....... 5,211 19.2 5,010 18.2 5,325 19.1 5,712 20.2 5,580 19.4
Asian ........................... 1,881 18.5 1,887 17.7 2,022 18.7 2,060 19.0 2,207 19.6
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity .... 4,212 13.9 4,279 13.5 4,662 14.4 4,873 14.7 4,982 14.7
Educational attainment 1
Less than a high school diploma . 2,615 9.3 2,394 9.0 2,427 9.4 2,242 8.6 2,231 8.8
High school graduates, no college 11,537 19.2 11,379 18.6 10,998 19.1 11,408 18.8 10,887 17.9
Some college or associate degree 15,196 30.9 15,468 30.7 15,519 30.0 15,931 30.5 15,505 29.2
Bachelor's degree and higher 3 .. 23,808 43.3 23,799 41.8 24,620 42.2 25,490 42.8 25,870 42.3
Employment status
Civilian labor force ............ 43,579 28.5 43,405 28.1 44,313 28.5 44,833 29.0 44,522 28.7
Employed ..................... 41,861 28.7 41,708 28.3 42,131 28.9 41,372 29.7 40,980 29.2
Full time 4 ................ 32,951 27.3 32,714 26.9 33,344 27.8 32,085 28.7 31,625 28.2
Part time 5 ................ 8,910 35.5 8,994 35.4 8,788 34.2 9,287 33.7 9,355 33.2
Unemployed ................... 1,718 23.8 1,697 23.2 2,181 22.3 3,462 22.9 3,542 23.8
Not in the labor force .......... 17,621 23.1 17,433 22.3 17,491 22.2 18,528 22.6 18,268 22.0
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes persons with a high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes persons with bachelor's, master's, professional, and doctoral degrees.
4 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
5 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Estimates for the above race groups (white, black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because
data are not presented for all races. Persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race.
Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Data on volunteers relate to persons
who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point in the year ending in September.
See the Technical Note for further information.
Volunteers by Employment Status
Among employed persons, 29.2 percent volunteered during the year ending in Septem-
ber 2010. By comparison, 23.8 percent of unemployed persons and 22.0 percent of
those not in the labor force volunteered. Among the employed, part-time workers
were more likely than full-time workers to have participated in volunteer activi-
ties--33.2 versus 28.2 percent. (See table 1.)
Total Annual Hours Spent Volunteering
Volunteers of both sexes spent a median of 52 hours on volunteer activities dur-
ing the period from September 2009 to September 2010. Median annual hours spent
on volunteer activities ranged from a high of 96 hours for volunteers age 65 and
over to a low of 40 hours for those 16 to 34 years old. (See table 2.)
Number and Type of Organizations
Most volunteers were involved with either one or two organizations--69.1 and 19.8
percent, respectively. Individuals with higher educational attainment were more
likely to volunteer for multiple organizations than were those with less educa-
tion. (See table 3.)
In 2010, the main organization--the organization for which the volunteer worked
the most hours during the year--was most frequently religious (33.8 percent of
all volunteers), followed by educational or youth service related (26.5 percent).
Another 13.6 percent of volunteers performed activities mainly for social or com-
munity service organizations. (See table 4.)
Older volunteers were more likely to volunteer mainly for religious organizations
than were their younger counterparts. For example, 44.6 percent of volunteers age
65 and over did their service mainly through or for a religious organization, com-
pared with 28.2 percent of volunteers age 16 to 24.
The type of main organization for which individuals volunteered also varied by edu-
cational attainment. Volunteering mainly for religious organizations decreased as
educational attainment increased. Among volunteers with less than a high school
diploma, 49.7 percent volunteered mainly for religious organizations, compared
with 31.9 percent of those with a bachelor's degree and higher. Volunteering pri-
marily for educational or youth service organizations increased with educational
attainment. Of volunteers with less than a high school diploma, 23.9 percent vol-
unteered mainly for this type of organization, compared with 27.3 percent of those
with a bachelor's degree and higher.
Among volunteers with children under 18 years old, 44.8 percent of mothers and 39.6
percent of fathers volunteered mainly for an educational or youth service organi-
zation, such as a school or scouting group. Volunteers without children under 18
were more likely than parents to volunteer for other types of organizations, such
as social or community service organizations and hospitals or other health organi-
zations.
Main Volunteer Activity for Main Organization
The main activity volunteers performed for their main organization was most fre-
quently fundraising (10.9 percent); collecting, preparing, distributing, or serv-
ing food (9.9 percent); or tutoring or teaching (9.8 percent). Men and women tend-
ed to engage in different main activities. Men who volunteered were most likely
to engage in general labor (11.5 percent); coach, referee, or supervise sports
teams (10.2 percent); or fundraise (9.3 percent). Female volunteers were most
likely to fundraise (12.1 percent); tutor or teach (11.5 percent); or collect,
prepare, distribute, or serve food (11.4 percent). (See table 5.)
Educational attainment influenced the types of activities volunteers performed.
College graduates were more likely than those with less education to tutor or
teach or to provide professional or management assistance. They were least likely
to collect, make, or distribute clothing, crafts, or goods other than food.
Parents were considerably more likely than those without children to engage in
volunteer activities that are frequently related to children--including coaching,
refereeing, or supervising sports teams; tutoring or teaching; and mentoring youth.
How Volunteers Became Involved with Main Organization
About 42.7 percent of volunteers became involved with their main organization after
being asked to volunteer, most often by someone in the organization. About 41.6 per-
cent became involved on their own initiative; that is, they approached the organiza-
tion. (See table 6.)
