Unemployment Rates & Volunteers--employed persons are more prone to give back

The economic downturn and resulting unemployment rates have hit our communities hard.  California's unemployment rate is currently 12.4%, 3.3% over the national average and 7.1% greater than when the economy first tanked in 2008.  The media bombards us with exposes and features on what unemployment rates equate to in both the for- and nonprofit sector.  But how do these rates effect the civic engagement of individuals in our nation?

The answer to that question varies--many small-town community news outlets have reported on the increase of volunteer rates as unemployment increases.  I know that have had a similar experience in my personal interactions with potential volunteers and fellow AmeriCorps members.  When asked why they volunteer, their response usually follows this pattern:  1) I feel good about giving back, 2)but I am unemployed/searching for a job, 3)and I want to maintain/develop my skills by volunteering.  Yet, The Editor's Desk at the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a different side to the story. 

The data that the Bureau has collected (results in graph at right), from 2009-2010 show that 28.2% of the population who volunteers is employed full-time, compared to only 23.8% of the population who volunteers and is unemployed.  Whereas these results might not include all aspects of community engagement-involved in religious organizations, helping local community members, online advocacy-the results are still somewhat shocking.  Although searching for employment is tedious and time-consuming, volunteering during this period can be a great way to build skills, network, and garner support from community-based organizations.  Just Google "Unemployment and Volunteering" and you'll start to read about those benefits for yourself.  One can only wish that our unemployment rates will decrease in the coming year.  I certainly hope that is the case, and that citizens will become engaged in their communities, continuing to make a difference for many years to come.
 
  To see the chart by The Editor's Desk at the Bureau of Labor go to: http://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2011/ted_20110128.htm

To learn about skilled volunteering opportunities through Volunteer Marin, go to www.VolunteerMarin.org