1. Volunteering in 2007 Current Population Survey Bureau of Labor Statistics Stephanie White June 19, 2008

2. The Current Population Survey (CPS) The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households nationwide. The universe is the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Data are collected on demographic characteristics, labor force status, earnings, and a number of other topics. Supplements on special topics are collected in most months. Since 2002, the September supplement has been about volunteering. The volunteer supplement was originally sponsored by USA Freedom Corps and is now sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

3. The Volunteer Supplement This supplement defines volunteers as people who did unpaid work (except expenses) through or for an organization. We are interested in activities done since September 1 st of the prior year. We ask what types of organizations the person volunteered for and find out how many weeks and hours the person volunteered for each organization. A volunteer’s main organization is the one with which he spent the most time. We ask how the person first became involved with that organization and what activities he did for them. A series of questions asks about volunteer work done abroad and work done domestically but more than 120 miles from home. A new question is being added this year to ask about donations to charitable and religious organizations.

4. The volunteer rate in 2007 was lower than in prior years SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, selected years. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

5. Women volunteer at a higher rate than do men Rate SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

6. Parents volunteer at a higher rate than do non-parents, regardless of sex SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

7. Parents of older children spend more time volunteering Median annual hours SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

8. Volunteer rates are lowest among those age 20 to 24 and highest among those 35 to 54 SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week. Rate

9. Volunteers age 65 and over spend the most time on volunteer activities SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week. Median Annual Hours

10. The likelihood of volunteering increases with education Rate SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

11. Whites volunteer at a higher rate than do other race and ethnic groups SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week. Rate

12. The volunteer rate is highest among those employed part time Rate SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007. NOTE: The reference period for the CPS volunteer supplement is the year beginning the prior September 1 and ending during the survey week.

13. Volunteers most frequently reported a religious organization as their main organization NOTE: The “other” category includes some volunteers for whom the type of main organization was not determined. SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Volunteer Supplement to the Current Population Survey, 2007.

14. The organizations for which people volunteer vary by demographic characteristics Most people volunteer for one (68.8%) or two (19.7%) organizations. Parents are more than twice as likely to volunteer mainly for education or youth service organizations (42.5 percent) than are people without children under 18 (16.7 percent.) People age 65 and over are much more likely to volunteer mainly for religious organizations (47.2 percent) than are those age 16 to 24 (29.9 percent.)

15. The main activity done for the main organization varies by demographic characteristics People with a bachelor’s degree or higher are almost twice as likely to tutor or teach than are people with less than a high school diploma. (12.8 and 7.6 percent, respectively) People with less than a high school diploma are more than three times as likely to collect, prepare, distribute, or serve food than are people with a bachelor’s degree or higher. (20.8 and 6.3 percent, respectively) Parents are more than three times as likely to coach, referee, or supervise sports teams than are people without children under age 18. (10.2 and 3.3 percent, respectively) Men are more likely than women to coach, referee, or supervise sports teams while women are more likely than men to tutor or teach and fundraise.

16. For further information Contact me: Stephanie White 202.691.6398 White_S@bls.gov An archive of volunteer releases is available on our webpage at: http://www.bls.gov/schedule/archives/all_nr.htm#VOLUN