Full text of 2005 : Text File, USDL 05-2278
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Technical Information: (202) 691-6378 USDL 05-2278
http://www.bls.gov/cps/
For release: 10:00 A.M. EST
Media Contact: 691-5902 Friday, December 9, 2005
VOLUNTEERING IN THE UNITED STATES, 2005
About 65.4 million people volunteered through or for an
organization at least once between September 2004 and September
2005, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of
Labor reported today. The proportion of the population who
volunteered was 28.8 percent, the same as in each of the prior
2 years.
These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement
to the September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS). Volunteers
are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses)
through or for an organization. The CPS is a monthly survey of
about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment and
unemployment among the nation's civilian noninstitutional population
age 16 and over. For more information about the volunteer supplement,
see the Technical Note.
Volunteering Among Demographic Groups
One-fourth of men and about one-third of women did volunteer
work in the year ended in September 2005, about the same proportions
as in the 2 prior years. Women volunteered at a higher rate than
men across age groups, educational levels, and other major character-
istics. (See tables A and 1.)
By age, persons age 35 to 44 were the most likely to volunteer
(34.5 percent), closely followed by 45- to 54-year olds (32.7
percent). Teenagers also had a relatively high volunteer rate,
30.4 percent, perhaps reflecting an emphasis on volunteer activi-
ties in schools. Volunteer rates were lowest among persons in
their early twenties (19.5 percent) and among those age 65 and
over (24.8 percent). Within the latter group, volunteer rates
decreased as age increased.
Whites volunteered at a higher rate (30.4 percent) than did
blacks (22.1 percent) and Asians (20.7 percent). Among Hispanics
or Latinos, 15.4 percent volunteered.
Married persons volunteered at a higher rate (34.1 percent)
than never-married persons (23.0 percent) and persons of other
marital statuses (23.1 percent). Parents with children under age
18 were more likely to volunteer than persons without children of
that age, 37.0 percent compared with 25.5 percent.
Among employed persons, 31.3 percent had volunteered during
the year ended in September 2005. By comparison, the volunteer
rates of persons who were unemployed (26.4 percent) or not in the
labor force (24.4 percent) were lower. Among the employed, part-
time workers were more likely than full-time workers to have
participated in volunteer activities--38.2 versus 29.8 percent.
- 2 -
Table A. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2002-05
(Numbers in thousands)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|September 2002 |September 2003 |September 2004 |September 2005
|---------------------------------------------------------------
| | | | | | | |
| | Per- | | Per- | | Per- | | Per-
Characteristic | | cent | | cent | | cent | | cent
| Number | of | Number | of | Number | of | Number | of
| | popu-| | popu-| | popu-| | popu-
| |lation| |lation| |lation| |lation
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sex | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total, both sexes.............| 59,783 | 27.4 | 63,791 | 28.8 | 64,542 | 28.8 | 65,357 | 28.8
Men.........................| 24,706 | 23.6 | 26,805 | 25.1 | 27,011 | 25.0 | 27,370 | 25.0
Women.......................| 35,076 | 31.0 | 36,987 | 32.2 | 37,530 | 32.4 | 37,987 | 32.4
| | | | | | | |
Age | | | | | | | |
Total, 16 years and over......| 59,783 | 27.4 | 63,791 | 28.8 | 64,542 | 28.8 | 65,357 | 28.8
16 to 24 years..............| 7,742 | 21.9 | 8,671 | 24.1 | 8,821 | 24.2 | 8,955 | 24.4
25 to 34 years..............| 9,574 | 24.8 | 10,337 | 26.5 | 10,046 | 25.8 | 9,881 | 25.3
35 to 44 years..............| 14,971 | 34.1 | 15,165 | 34.7 | 14,783 | 34.2 | 14,809 | 34.5
45 to 54 years..............| 12,477 | 31.3 | 13,302 | 32.7 | 13,584 | 32.8 | 13,826 | 32.7
55 to 64 years..............| 7,331 | 27.5 | 8,170 | 29.2 | 8,784 | 30.1 | 9,173 | 30.2
65 years and over...........| 7,687 | 22.7 | 8,146 | 23.7 | 8,524 | 24.6 | 8,712 | 24.8
| | | | | | | |
Race and Hispanic or | | | | | | | |
Latino ethnicity | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
White(1)......................| 52,591 | 29.2 | 55,572 | 30.6 | 55,892 | 30.5 | 56,170 | 30.4
Black or African American(1)..| 4,896 | 19.1 | 5,145 | 20.0 | 5,435 | 20.8 | 5,879 | 22.1
Asian(1)......................| (2) | (2) | 1,735 | 18.7 | 1,832 | 19.3 | 2,055 | 20.7
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity..| 4,059 | 15.5 | 4,364 | 15.7 | 4,102 | 14.5 | 4,511 | 15.4
| | | | | | | |
Educational attainment(3)..| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Less than a high school | | | | | | | |
diploma......................| 2,806 | 10.1 | 2,793 | 9.9 | 2,718 | 9.6 | 2,837 | 10.0
High school graduates, no | | | | | | | |
college(4)...................| 12,542 | 21.2 | 12,882 | 21.7 | 12,709 | 21.6 | 12,594 | 21.2
Less than a bachelor's | | | | | | | |
degree(5)....................| 15,066 | 32.8 | 15,966 | 34.1 | 16,414 | 34.2 | 16,452 | 33.7
College graduates.............| 21,627 | 43.3 | 23,481 | 45.6 | 23,880 | 45.7 | 24,517 | 45.8
| | | | | | | |
Employment status | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Civilian labor force..........| 42,773 | 29.3 | 45,499 | 30.9 | 45,896 | 30.9 | 46,872 | 31.1
Employed ...................| 40,742 | 29.5 | 43,138 | 31.2 | 43,886 | 31.2 | 44,894 | 31.3
Full time(6)..............| 32,210 | 28.3 | 33,599 | 29.6 | 34,237 | 29.6 | 35,225 | 29.8
Part time(7)..............| 8,532 | 35.4 | 9,539 | 38.4 | 9,649 | 38.5 | 9,669 | 38.2
Unemployed..................| 2,031 | 25.1 | 2,361 | 26.7 | 2,010 | 25.6 | 1,978 | 26.4
Not in the labor force........| 17,010 | 23.7 | 18,293 | 24.6 | 18,646 | 24.7 | 18,485 | 24.4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Beginning in 2003, persons who selected this race group only; persons who selected more
than one race group are not included. Prior to 2003, persons who reported more than one race
group were included in the group they identified as their main race.
2 Data for Asians were not tabulated in 2002.
3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
4 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
5 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
7 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. In addition, persons
whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are
classified by ethnicity as well as by race. Due to the introduction of revised population
controls in January 2003, 2004, and 2005, estimated levels for 2003, 2004, and 2005 are not
strictly comparable with each other or with those for 2002. See the Technical Note for
further information.
- 3 -
Total Annual Hours Spent Volunteering
Volunteers spent a median of 50 hours on volunteer activities
during the period from September 2004 to September 2005. This
was down slightly from the level in the three previous surveys.
Men spent 52 hours volunteering and women spent 50 hours. Median
annual hours spent on volunteer activities ranged from a high of
96 hours for volunteers age 65 and over to a low of 36 hours for
those 16 to 19 and 25 to 34 years old. (See table 2.)
Number and Type of Organizations
Most volunteers were involved with one or two organizations--
69.6 and 18.9 percent, respectively. Individuals with higher
educational attainment were more likely to volunteer for multiple
organizations than were individuals with less education. Parents
also were more likely to volunteer for more than one organization
than persons with no own children under 18. (See table 3.)
The main organization--the organization for which the volunteer
worked the most hours during the year--was most frequently either
religious (34.8 percent of all volunteers) or educational/youth
service related (26.2 percent). Another 13.4 percent of volunteers
performed activities mainly for social or community service organi-
zations. (See table 4.)
Older volunteers were more likely to work mainly for religious
organizations than were their younger counterparts. For example,
45.0 percent of volunteers age 65 and over performed volunteer
activities mainly through or for a religious organization, compared
with 27.5 percent of volunteers age 16 to 24 years. Younger individ-
uals were more likely to volunteer through or for educational or youth
service organizations.
Among volunteers with children under 18 years old, 45.2 percent of
mothers and 36.1 percent of fathers volunteered mainly for an educa-
tional/youth service-related organization, such as a school or sports
team. Parents were more than twice as likely to volunteer for such
organizations as persons with no children of that age--51.5 and
21.6 percent, respectively. Conversely, volunteers with no children
under 18 were considerably more likely to volunteer for some other
types of organizations, such as hospitals or other health organiza-
tions and social or community service organizations.
Volunteer Activities for Main Organization
Volunteers were able to report more than one activity that they
had performed for their main organization. Fundraising was the most
commonly reported activity (29.7 percent), followed by collecting,
preparing, distributing, or serving food (26.3 percent), engaging in
general labor or supplying transportation to people (22.5 percent),
and tutoring or teaching (21.3 percent). (See table 5.)
Educational attainment influenced the types of activities volun-
teers performed. People with higher levels of educational attainment
were more likely to provide professional or management assistance,
tutor or teach, mentor youth, coach, referee, or supervise sports
teams, or provide counseling, medical care, fire/EMS, or protective
services. They were less likely to collect, prepare, distribute,
or serve food, or be an usher, greeter, or minister.
Parents were considerably more likely than those without
children to engage in several types of volunteer activities--
fundraising, tutoring or teaching, mentoring youth, and coach-
ing, refereeing, or supervising sports teams. This may be
because parents often volunteer for organizations in which their
children are involved.
- 4 -
How Volunteers Became Involved with Main Organization
Two in five volunteers became involved with the main organiza-
tion for which they did volunteer work on their own initiative;
that is, they approached the organization. A slightly larger pro-
portion, almost 43 percent, was asked to volunteer, most often by
someone in the organization. (See table 6.)
Reasons for Not Volunteering
Among those who had volunteered at some point in the past, the
most common reason given for not volunteering in the year ended
September 2005 was lack of time (45.6 percent), followed by health
or medical problems (15.2 percent), and family responsibilities or
childcare problems (9.3 percent). Lack of time was the most common
reason for persons in all age groups except those age 65 and over,
who reported health or medical problems as the primary reason.
(See table 7.)
- 5 -
Technical Note
The data in this release were collected through a supplement to the
September 2005 Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS--a monthly sur-
vey of about 60,000 households conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for
the Bureau of Labor Statistics--focuses on obtaining information on em-
ployment and unemployment among the nation's civilian noninstitutional
population age 16 and over. The purpose of this supplement to the CPS
was to obtain information on the incidence of volunteering and the char-
acteristics of volunteers in the United States.
In January 2003, 2004, and 2005 the Census Bureau introduced adjust-
ments to the population controls for the CPS as part of its annual update
of population estimates. The 2003 adjustment resulted in an increase to
the estimates for all population categories. This increase was partly
offset by downward adjustments in 2004 and 2005. Consequently, estimat-
ed levels of volunteers for September 2003, 2004, and 2005 are not strictly
comparable with one another, or with estimated levels for September 2002.
These adjustments to the levels, however, should have had only negligible
effects on the volunteer rates. In addition to the population control
adjustments, new questions on race and ethnicity were introduced into the
CPS in January 2003. For a discussion of the changes introduced into the
CPS in January 2003, see "Revisions to the Current Population Survey Effec-
tive in January 2003," in the February 2003 issue of Employment and Earnings,
available at http://www.bls.gov/cps/rvcps03.pdf on the BLS Web site. For
a discussion of the changes introduced in January 2004, see "Adjustments
to Household Survey Population Estimates in January 2004," in the February
2004 issue of Employment and Earnings, available on the BLS Web site at
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps04adj.pdf. For a discussion of the changes intro-
duced in January 2005, see "Adjustments to Household Survey Population Esti-
mates in January 2005," in the February 2005 issue of Employment and Earnings,
available on the BLS Web site at http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps05adj.pdf.
Information in this release will be made available to sensory-impaired
individuals upon request. Voice phone: 202-691-5200; TDD message referral
phone number: 1-800-877-8339.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both sampling and nonsampling
error. When a sample, rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there
is a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the "true" population
values they represent. The exact difference, or sampling error, varies de-
pending on the particular sample selected, and this variability is measured
by the standard error of the estimate. There is about a 90-percent chance,
or level of confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will differ by no
more than 1.6 standard errors from the "true" population value because of
sampling error. BLS analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent level
of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by nonsampling error. Nonsampling error
can occur for many reasons, including the failure to sample a segment of
the population, inability to obtain information for all respondents in the
sample, inability or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct infor-
mation, and errors made in the collection or processing of the data.
For a full discussion of the reliability of data from the CPS and for
information on estimating standard errors, see the "Explanatory Notes and
Estimates of Error" section of Employment and Earnings.
- 6 -
Volunteer questions and concepts
In the September 2005 supplement, questions on volunteer activities were
asked of all households. Efforts were made to have household members answer
the volunteer questions for themselves. (Generally, one member of the house-
hold answers all the questions in the CPS on behalf of the entire household.)
Self-response was considered important for the volunteer supplement because
research indicated that self- respondents could more easily answer questions
on the characteristics of the volunteer activity. About 70 percent of the
responses were self-reports.
The survey was introduced as follows: "This month, we are interested
in volunteer activities, that is, activities for which people are not paid,
except perhaps expenses. We only want you to include volunteer activities
that you did through or for an organization, even if you only did them once
in a while."
Following this introduction, respondents were asked the first supplement
question: "Since September 1st of last year, have you done any volunteer
activities through or for an organization?"
If respondents did not answer "yes" to the first question, they were asked
the following question: "Sometimes people don't think of activities they do
infrequently or activities they do for children's schools or youth organiza-
tions as volunteer activities. Since September 1st of last year, have you
done any of these types of volunteer activities?"
Respondents were considered volunteers if they answered "yes" to either
of these questions.
Respondents thus classified as volunteers were asked further questions
about the number and type of organizations for which they volunteered, to-
tal hours spent volunteering, how they became involved with the main organ-
ization for which they volunteered, and the type of activities they performed
for the main organization. Non-volunteers were asked about why they didn't
volunteer and if they had ever volunteered.
The reference period for the questions on volunteering was about 1 year,
from September 1, 2004, through the survey week in September 2005. The ref-
erence period for other characteristics, such as labor force status, edu-
cational attainment, and marital status, refer to the survey reference week
in September 2005. It is possible that these characteristics were different
at the time volunteer activities were performed.
Definitions
Volunteers are persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities at any
point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.
The count of volunteers only includes persons who volunteered through or
for an organization; the figures do not include persons who volunteered in
a more informal manner. For example, a woman who taught actng to children
through a local theater would be considered a volunteer. However, a woman
who, on her own, organized softball games for the children in her neighbor-
hood would not be counted as a volunteer for the purpose of this survey.
- 7 -
Organizations are associations, societies, or groups of people who share
a common interest. Examples include churches, youth groups, and civic or-
ganizations. For the purpose of this study, organizations are grouped into
eight major categories, including religious, youth, and social or community
service organizations. (See table 4.)
One new organization category, immigrant/refugee assistance, was added to
the questionnaire as a possible response this year. Responses that were col-
lected in this category may have been distributed over at least six of the
major organization categories in previous years. For this reason, the addi-
tion of the new response category created a break in the comparability of
organizations between 2005 and prior years. Because few people reported vol-
unteering for immigrant/refugee assistance organizations and because the
group was not a definite subset of any of the major organization categories,
those persons who did report that they volunteered for immigrant/refugee
assistance organizations were placed in the "other" group.
The main organization is the organization for which the volunteer worked
the most hours during the year. If a respondent volunteered for only one
organization, it was considered the main organization, even if exact hours
were not obtained.
In order to identify the type of main organization, respondents had to
provide information about the organization and, for those who volunteered
for more than one organization, annual hours worked for each. Some re-
spondents did not provide the information necessary to determine the type
of main organization. For these respondents, the follow-up questions on
activities and how they became involved with the main organization asked
them to report on the organization for which they think they spent the
most time volunteering.
Activities are the specific tasks the volunteer did for an organization.
Examples include tutoring, fundraising, and serving food. The activity cate-
gories were modified this year; thus, the data on activities are not directly
comparable with those for prior years.
Table 1. Volunteers by selected characteristics, September 2005
(Numbers in thousands)
Total, both sexes Men Women
Volunteers Volunteers Volunteers
Characteristics in September 2005 Civilian Civilian Civilian
noninsti- noninsti- noninsti-
tutional Percent tutional Percent tutional Percent
popula- Number of popula- Number of popula- Number of
tion popula- tion popula- tion popula-
tion tion tion
Age
Total, 16 years and over.......... 226,693 65,357 28.8 109,475 27,370 25.0 117,218 37,987 32.4
16 to 24 years.................. 36,735 8,955 24.4 18,532 3,858 20.8 18,202 5,097 28.0
16 to 19 years............... 16,443 5,000 30.4 8,339 2,282 27.4 8,104 2,718 33.5
20 to 24 years............... 20,291 3,956 19.5 10,193 1,576 15.5 10,098 2,380 23.6
25 years and over............... 189,958 56,401 29.7 90,943 23,512 25.9 99,015 32,889 33.2
25 to 34 years............... 39,118 9,881 25.3 19,479 3,949 20.3 19,639 5,931 30.2
35 to 44 years............... 42,968 14,809 34.5 21,165 6,105 28.8 21,803 8,704 39.9
45 to 54 years............... 42,316 13,826 32.7 20,701 5,999 29.0 21,615 7,828 36.2
55 to 64 years............... 30,410 9,173 30.2 14,622 3,999 27.3 15,788 5,174 32.8
65 years and over............ 35,146 8,712 24.8 14,975 3,460 23.1 20,170 5,252 26.0
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White............................. 184,851 56,170 30.4 90,248 23,726 26.3 94,602 32,444 34.3
Black or African American......... 26,618 5,879 22.1 11,933 2,226 18.7 14,685 3,654 24.9
Asian............................. 9,946 2,055 20.7 4,729 845 17.9 5,217 1,210 23.2
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity...... 29,361 4,511 15.4 15,083 1,839 12.2 14,278 2,671 18.7
Educational attainment (1)
Less than a high school diploma... 28,256 2,837 10.0 13,868 1,156 8.3 14,388 1,682 11.7
High school graduates, no
college (2).................... 59,345 12,594 21.2 28,278 5,072 17.9 31,066 7,522 24.2
Less than a bachelor's
degree (3)..................... 48,861 16,452 33.7 22,276 6,382 28.6 26,584 10,071 37.9
College graduates................. 53,497 24,517 45.8 26,520 10,903 41.1 26,977 13,615 50.5
Marital status
Single, never married............. 62,938 14,445 23.0 33,387 6,249 18.7 29,551 8,196 27.7
Married, spouse present........... 119,128 40,611 34.1 60,337 18,292 30.3 58,792 22,318 38.0
Other marital status (4).......... 44,626 10,301 23.1 15,752 2,829 18.0 28,875 7,472 25.9
Presence of own children
under 18 years (5)
Without own children under 18..... 160,998 41,058 25.5 80,229 17,618 22.0 80,769 23,439 29.0
With own children under 18........ 65,695 24,299 37.0 29,246 9,752 33.3 36,449 14,547 39.9
Employment status
Civilian labor force.............. 150,863 46,872 31.1 80,780 21,684 26.8 70,084 25,188 35.9
Employed........................ 143,381 44,894 31.3 76,999 20,947 27.2 66,383 23,947 36.1
Full time (6)................. 118,059 35,225 29.8 68,594 18,385 26.8 49,465 16,840 34.0
Part time (7)................. 25,323 9,669 38.2 8,405 2,562 30.5 16,918 7,107 42.0
Unemployed...................... 7,482 1,978 26.4 3,781 737 19.5 3,701 1,241 33.5
Not in the labor force............ 75,830 18,485 24.4 28,695 5,686 19.8 47,134 12,799 27.2
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any
point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. 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. In
addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classi-
fied by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 2. Volunteers by annual hours of volunteer activities and selected characteristics, September 2005
Percent distribution of total annual hours spent volunteering
at all organizations
Total Median
volunteers annual
Characteristics in September 2005 (thousands) Not hours
1 to 14 15 to 49 50 to 99 100 to 500 report- (1)
Total hour(s) hours hours 499 hours ing
hours and annual
over hours
Sex
Total, both sexes................. 65,357 100.0 21.5 25.0 14.8 27.8 5.2 5.8 50
Men............................. 27,370 100.0 20.6 25.1 14.7 28.3 5.6 5.7 52
Women........................... 37,987 100.0 22.0 25.0 14.8 27.4 4.9 5.9 50
Age
Total, 16 years and over.......... 65,357 100.0 21.5 25.0 14.8 27.8 5.2 5.8 50
16 to 24 years.................. 8,955 100.0 24.5 28.0 14.2 22.6 3.2 7.6 36
16 to 19 years............... 5,000 100.0 24.1 30.7 13.8 21.7 2.4 7.3 36
20 to 24 years............... 3,956 100.0 24.9 24.5 14.8 23.7 4.1 7.9 40
25 years and over............... 56,401 100.0 21.0 24.6 14.9 28.6 5.5 5.5 52
25 to 34 years............... 9,881 100.0 26.4 27.7 13.5 23.5 4.2 4.7 36
35 to 44 years............... 14,809 100.0 22.9 25.4 15.9 27.0 4.4 4.4 48
45 to 54 years............... 13,826 100.0 21.2 25.3 15.4 27.5 5.0 5.5 50
55 to 64 years............... 9,173 100.0 19.0 23.3 14.8 30.1 6.6 6.3 56
65 years and over............ 8,712 100.0 13.4 19.8 13.8 37.0 8.6 7.4 96
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White............................. 56,170 100.0 21.3 25.3 15.0 27.9 5.0 5.3 50
Black or African American......... 5,879 100.0 20.6 22.7 13.2 26.4 7.1 9.9 52
Asian............................. 2,055 100.0 27.9 22.8 12.5 26.9 3.6 6.3 40
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity...... 4,511 100.0 25.4 25.1 13.5 24.9 4.7 6.5 40
Educational attainment (2)
Less than a high school diploma... 2,837 100.0 22.8 23.9 12.1 27.2 5.7 8.3 48
High school graduates, no
college (3).................... 12,594 100.0 23.4 23.6 14.1 26.4 5.3 7.2 48
Less than a bachelor's
degree (4)..................... 16,452 100.0 21.3 25.2 15.0 27.8 5.5 5.2 50
College graduates................. 24,517 100.0 19.3 24.8 15.5 30.4 5.6 4.5 55
Marital status
Single, never married............. 14,445 100.0 24.3 27.3 14.0 22.7 4.0 7.6 40
Married, spouse present........... 40,611 100.0 20.5 24.3 14.9 29.6 5.5 5.1 52
Other marital status (5).......... 10,301 100.0 21.2 24.7 15.2 27.4 5.5 6.0 52
Presence of own children
under 18 years (6)
Men:
No own children under 18 years
old.......................... 17,618 100.0 20.0 25.0 14.6 28.0 6.0 6.4 52
With own children under 18 years
old.......................... 9,752 100.0 21.8 25.3 15.0 28.8 4.8 4.4 50
Women:
No own children under 18 years
old.......................... 23,439 100.0 22.1 24.2 14.1 27.5 5.2 6.9 50
With own children under 18 years
old.......................... 14,547 100.0 22.0 26.2 16.0 27.2 4.5 4.1 48
Employment status
Civilian labor force.............. 46,872 100.0 22.8 26.2 15.1 26.2 4.4 5.3 48
Employed........................ 44,894 100.0 22.8 26.2 14.9 26.4 4.4 5.3 48
Full time (7)................. 35,225 100.0 23.3 26.4 15.0 25.7 4.2 5.4 45
Part time (8)................. 9,669 100.0 20.6 25.7 14.9 29.0 4.8 5.0 51
Unemployed...................... 1,978 100.0 24.2 26.3 17.7 20.9 5.8 5.0 42
Not in the labor force............ 18,485 100.0 18.0 22.1 14.0 31.7 7.1 7.1 62
1 For those reporting annual hours.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any
point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. 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. In
addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classi-
fied by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 3. Volunteers by number of organizations for which volunteer activities were performed
and selected characteristics, September 2005
Percent distribution of the number of
organizations for which volunteer activities
were performed
Total
Characteristics in September 2005 volunteers
(thousands) Not
Five reporting
Total One Two Three Four or number of
more organiza-
tions
Sex
Total, both sexes.................. 65,357 100.0 69.6 18.9 7.0 2.4 1.7 0.3
Men.............................. 27,370 100.0 71.7 17.9 6.3 2.0 1.6 .3
Women............................ 37,987 100.0 68.1 19.6 7.4 2.7 1.8 .3
Age
Total, 16 years and over........... 65,357 100.0 69.6 18.9 7.0 2.4 1.7 .3
16 to 24 years................... 8,955 100.0 77.3 15.1 4.1 1.7 1.2 .6
16 to 19 years................ 5,000 100.0 74.0 16.9 5.1 1.9 1.4 .7
20 to 24 years................ 3,956 100.0 81.5 13.0 2.8 1.3 1.0 .5
25 years and over................ 56,401 100.0 68.4 19.5 7.4 2.6 1.8 .2
25 to 34 years................ 9,881 100.0 74.9 16.9 5.2 1.7 1.1 .2
35 to 44 years................ 14,809 100.0 65.9 21.2 8.0 2.8 2.0 .2
45 to 54 years................ 13,826 100.0 66.7 19.9 8.0 3.0 2.2 .2
55 to 64 years................ 9,173 100.0 67.5 18.8 8.6 2.9 2.0 .2
65 years and over............. 8,712 100.0 69.2 19.7 6.8 2.1 1.7 .5
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White.............................. 56,170 100.0 68.3 19.7 7.3 2.6 1.9 .3
Black or African American.......... 5,879 100.0 77.9 13.9 5.2 1.4 1.2 .4
Asian.............................. 2,055 100.0 79.3 14.7 3.9 .9 .4 .8
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity....... 4,511 100.0 82.3 11.8 3.8 1.1 .5 .4
Educational attainment (1)
Less than a high school diploma.... 2,837 100.0 88.1 8.6 2.4 .5 .3 .1
High school graduates, no
college (2)..................... 12,594 100.0 78.3 15.3 4.0 1.3 .8 .2
Less than a bachelor's
degree (3)...................... 16,452 100.0 70.3 18.8 7.2 2.1 1.4 .3
College graduates.................. 24,517 100.0 59.8 23.4 9.9 3.8 2.8 .3
Marital status
Single, never married.............. 14,445 100.0 75.1 16.3 4.8 1.9 1.4 .6
Married, spouse present............ 40,611 100.0 67.5 20.1 7.5 2.7 1.9 .2
Other marital status (4)........... 10,301 100.0 70.7 17.7 7.8 2.1 1.5 .2
Presence of own children
under 18 years (5)
Men:
No own children under 18 years
old........................... 17,618 100.0 73.3 16.8 5.9 2.0 1.6 .4
With own children under 18 years
old........................... 9,752 100.0 69.0 19.9 7.1 2.0 1.8 .1
Women:
No own children under 18 years
old........................... 23,439 100.0 70.2 18.6 6.8 2.5 1.6 .4
With own children under 18 years
old........................... 14,547 100.0 64.8 21.3 8.4 3.2 2.2 .2
Employment status
Civilian labor force............... 46,872 100.0 69.2 19.1 7.2 2.5 1.8 .2
Employed......................... 44,894 100.0 69.0 19.3 7.1 2.5 1.8 .2
Full time (6).................. 35,225 100.0 69.4 19.1 7.0 2.5 1.8 .2
Part time (7).................. 9,669 100.0 67.7 19.9 7.6 2.6 1.9 .3
Unemployed....................... 1,978 100.0 73.4 15.1 8.1 1.5 1.6 .2
Not in the labor force............. 18,485 100.0 70.8 18.5 6.4 2.3 1.5 .5
1 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
2 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
3 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
4 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
5 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included
are nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
6 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
7 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for
an organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September
2005. 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. In addition, persons whose
ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classi-
fied by ethnicity as well as by race. Dash represents or rounds to zero.
Table 4. Volunteers by type of main organization for which volunteer activities were performed and
selected characteristics, September 2005
Percent distribution of volunteers by type of main organization (1)
Total Civic,
Characteristics volun- polit- Educa- Envi- Hos- Social Sport,
in September teers ical, tional ron- pital Pub- or hobby, Not
2005 (thou- Total profes- or mental or lic Reli- commu- cul- Other deter-
sands) sional, youth or other safe- gious nity tural, mined
or inter- ser- animal health ty service or arts
national vice care
Sex
Total, both sexes........ 65,357 100.0 6.4 26.2 1.8 7.7 1.3 34.8 13.4 3.3 3.5 1.7
Men................... 27,370 100.0 8.2 24.4 1.8 5.5 2.4 34.0 14.2 4.1 3.8 1.6
Women................. 37,987 100.0 5.0 27.6 1.8 9.2 .5 35.4 12.8 2.7 3.3 1.7
Age
Total, 16 years and
over.................... 65,357 100.0 6.4 26.2 1.8 7.7 1.3 34.8 13.4 3.3 3.5 1.7
16 to 24 years........ 8,955 100.0 4.2 32.4 2.5 8.2 1.5 27.5 14.9 2.8 3.6 2.3
16 to 19 years..... 5,000 100.0 3.4 36.5 2.1 7.6 1.0 27.7 13.6 2.8 2.9 2.5
20 to 24 years..... 3,956 100.0 5.3 27.3 2.9 9.0 2.3 27.3 16.6 2.7 4.5 2.1
25 years and over..... 56,401 100.0 6.7 25.2 1.7 7.6 1.2 36.0 13.2 3.4 3.5 1.5
25 to 34 years..... 9,881 100.0 6.8 33.6 2.1 6.6 1.7 29.1 13.1 3.0 3.1 1.0
35 to 44 years..... 14,809 100.0 4.8 37.9 1.3 5.8 1.1 31.2 10.5 3.0 3.1 1.3
45 to 54 years..... 13,826 100.0 6.8 25.6 2.1 7.7 1.3 36.8 11.4 3.6 3.1 1.7
55 to 64 years..... 9,173 100.0 8.0 13.5 2.1 8.9 1.4 41.2 15.5 3.8 4.0 1.7
65 years and over.. 8,712 100.0 8.2 6.2 .9 10.1 .8 45.0 18.0 3.7 4.7 2.3
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White................... 56,170 100.0 6.5 26.3 2.0 8.0 1.4 33.8 13.5 3.4 3.6 1.5
Black or African
American............. 5,879 100.0 5.2 23.8 .5 4.8 .5 45.5 12.3 2.0 2.9 2.5
Asian................... 2,055 100.0 6.0 28.6 .5 8.8 .5 33.6 13.3 3.8 2.5 2.4
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity............ 4,511 100.0 5.8 31.9 .9 5.7 1.0 37.1 9.5 2.3 3.9 1.9
Educational attainment (2)
Less than a high school
diploma.............. 2,837 100.0 5.2 20.9 0.4 5.7 1.5 45.5 13.5 1.2 5.0 1.0
High school graduates, no
college (3).......... 12,594 100.0 6.3 23.7 1.3 7.9 2.1 38.9 12.2 2.9 3.3 1.4
Less than a bachelor's
degree (4)........... 16,452 100.0 6.5 26.1 1.8 7.9 1.3 35.8 12.6 3.3 3.4 1.3
College graduates....... 24,517 100.0 7.3 26.0 2.0 7.4 .7 33.5 13.9 3.9 3.5 1.8
Marital status
Single, never married... 14,445 100.0 6.1 29.3 2.7 8.5 1.6 26.1 15.4 3.6 4.1 2.5
Married, spouse
present.............. 40,611 100.0 6.2 26.8 1.4 6.7 1.3 38.1 12.1 3.1 2.9 1.4
Other marital
status (5)........... 10,301 100.0 7.2 19.8 2.0 10.3 .8 34.0 15.7 3.6 5.1 1.6
Presence of own
children
under 18 years
(6)
Men:
No own children under
18 years old....... 17,618 100.0 9.6 17.9 2.1 6.5 2.7 34.3 16.2 4.3 4.5 1.9
With own children under
18 years old....... 9,752 100.0 5.8 36.1 1.1 3.7 1.8 33.4 10.6 3.9 2.6 1.0
Women:
No own children under
18 years old....... 23,439 100.0 6.2 16.6 2.4 11.7 .6 37.3 15.8 3.2 4.1 2.1
With own children under
18 years old....... 14,547 100.0 3.2 45.2 0.8 5.2 0.3 32.4 8.0 1.9 2.0 1.0
Employment status
Civilian labor force..... 46,872 100.0 6.6 27.7 1.9 7.5 1.5 33.5 13.1 3.4 3.4 1.5
Employed....... 44,894 100.0 6.7 27.4 1.9 7.6 1.5 33.6 12.9 3.4 3.4 1.6
Full time (7)....... 35,225 100.0 7.2 26.5 1.9 7.6 1.7 33.4 13.2 3.5 3.5 1.6
Part time (8)....... 9,669 100.0 4.8 30.5 2.0 7.6 1.0 34.6 11.9 2.9 3.1 1.5
Unemployed..... 1,978 100.0 4.4 34.0 1.5 5.8 1.6 29.3 16.7 2.5 3.4 .8
Not in the labor force.. 18,485 100.0 5.9 22.6 1.5 8.0 .6 38.2 14.2 3.1 3.9 2.0
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during
the year. See the Technical Note for more details.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces,
nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organiza-
tion at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. 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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be
of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 5. Volunteer activities for main organization for which activities were performed and selected characteristics,
September 2005
Percent distribution of volunteer activities for main organization (1)
Pro- En-
vide gage
Pro- profes- in
Collect, vide sion- Engage gen-
Col- make, or coun- al or in eral
Total Coach lect distri- Fund- seling, manage- music, lab-
Characteristics in volun- ref- Be an pre- bute raise medi- Provide ment perfor- or;
September 2005 teers eree, Tutor usher, pare, cloth- or cal general assis- mance, Sup-
(thou- or or Mentor greet- dis- ing sell care, office tance, ,or ply Other
sands) super- teach youth er, or tri- crafts, items fire/ ser- includ- other trans-
vise mini- bute, or goods to EMS, vices ing artis- porta-
sports ster or other raise or serv- tic tion
teams serve than money pro- ing on activ- to
food food tec a ities peo-
tive board ple
ser- or
vices commit-
tee
Sex
Total, both sexes........ 65,357 8.9 21.3 17.6 13.1 26.3 16.2 29.7 7.4 12.8 17.7 11.5 22.5 15.3
Men.................... 27,370 14.5 18.6 17.9 15.1 21.1 12.0 26.7 8.5 9.1 19.8 9.9 27.7 14.4
Women.................. 37,987 4.8 23.2 17.4 11.7 30.0 19.3 32.0 6.6 15.4 16.1 12.6 18.8 16.0
Age
Total, 16 years and
over..................... 65,357 8.9 21.3 17.6 13.1 26.3 16.2 29.7 7.4 12.8 17.7 11.5 22.5 15.3
16 to 24 years......... 8,955 11.6 22.0 22.1 9.4 23.5 14.5 26.7 6.2 9.2 6.1 15.7 21.6 15.3
16 to 19 years...... 5,000 12.0 21.4 20.2 10.0 25.2 14.5 29.3 3.9 9.5 4.4 16.3 23.2 14.9
20 to 24 years...... 3,956 11.1 22.8 24.6 8.7 21.4 14.5 23.3 9.1 8.8 8.1 14.9 19.7 15.8
25 years and over...... 56,401 8.4 21.2 16.9 13.7 26.7 16.5 30.2 7.6 13.4 19.5 10.8 22.7 15.3
25 to 34 years...... 9,881 11.6 24.0 20.5 9.5 23.4 15.7 29.7 7.9 10.8 12.8 12.5 22.2 15.4
35 to 44 years...... 14,809 13.0 24.6 20.9 11.0 25.5 16.4 32.9 6.6 13.2 18.9 11.3 23.1 14.0
45 to 54 years...... 13,826 9.1 21.4 18.0 15.0 27.3 15.7 32.6 8.3 13.0 21.6 10.3 24.4 14.5
55 to 64 years...... 9,173 3.4 19.4 13.9 17.1 28.5 16.7 30.1 8.7 14.4 23.8 10.7 22.9 14.3
65 years and over... 8,712 1.5 13.6 7.3 17.7 29.9 18.6 22.9 6.8 15.9 20.6 8.7 19.6 19.9
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White.................... 56,170 8.9 20.8 17.0 12.9 25.9 16.0 30.6 7.2 12.9 18.5 11.0 22.9 15.7
Black or African
American.............. 5,879 9.2 24.4 24.2 17.7 29.7 18.8 23.5 10.1 12.9 13.2 14.3 19.0 12.6
Asian.................... 2,055 5.6 21.0 13.5 9.1 24.6 13.2 24.7 5.5 10.0 10.4 12.0 19.9 15.3
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity............. 4,511 9.6 20.7 14.6 12.1 24.1 15.5 24.1 6.7 9.7 9.1 8.8 18.4 18.5
Educational attainment (2)
Less than a high school
diploma............... 2,837 4.3 13.3 8.7 14.3 32.9 16.3 22.2 5.4 6.6 6.9 6.4 23.3 19.0
High school graduates, no
college (3)........... 12,594 8.2 16.6 14.3 14.2 30.3 16.3 30.8 5.5 12.1 13.3 9.4 23.6 17.0
Less than a bachelor's
degree (4)............ 16,452 8.6 20.4 18.1 14.1 27.9 17.5 31.0 7.5 14.5 17.6 11.7 24.9 15.6
College graduates........ 24,517 8.9 24.9 18.4 13.2 23.4 15.9 30.4 9.0 14.0 25.5 11.4 20.6 13.9
Marital status
Single, never married.... 14,445 9.8 20.5 19.2 10.5 23.0 14.4 26.6 7.8 10.6 9.8 13.8 21.2 15.3
Married, spouse
present............... 40,611 9.4 22.7 17.8 14.3 26.9 16.4 31.4 7.2 13.1 20.9 11.0 23.6 14.8
Other marital status (5). 10,301 5.3 16.6 14.5 12.3 28.4 18.1 27.8 7.8 14.7 16.2 10.2 20.2 17.6
Presence of own children
under 18 years (6)
Men:
No own children under
18 years old........ 17,618 9.0 16.9 15.4 16.2 21.5 12.1 25.4 8.7 9.7 19.3 10.1 27.2 15.7
With own children under
18 years old........ 9,752 24.5 21.5 22.5 13.1 20.4 11.7 28.9 8.3 8.1 20.9 9.6 28.5 12.0
Women:
No own children under
18 years old........ 23,439 3.5 20.0 14.4 13.0 29.4 19.1 28.6 7.4 15.6 16.0 12.3 18.0 16.1
With own children under
18 years old........ 14,547 6.9 28.4 22.0 9.6 31.0 19.6 37.4 5.4 15.2 16.4 13.0 20.1 15.9
Employment status
Civilian labor force..... 46,872 10.5 21.8 19.4 13.0 25.4 15.7 31.3 8.2 11.9 18.8 11.5 23.6 14.2
Employed............... 44,894 10.6 21.8 19.4 13.1 25.1 15.6 31.5 8.3 11.8 19.1 11.3 23.6 14.2
Full time (7)........ 35,225 11.4 20.9 19.2 13.4 24.4 14.9 31.7 8.5 11.5 20.0 10.9 23.4 13.7
Part time (8)........ 9,669 7.7 25.3 19.8 12.1 27.5 17.9 30.9 7.4 13.1 16.0 13.0 24.0 15.7
Unemployed............. 1,978 8.3 20.9 19.9 10.2 31.2 18.7 27.0 6.7 14.4 11.4 14.3 23.6 14.6
Not in the labor force... 18,485 4.7 20.0 13.1 13.4 28.7 17.5 25.8 5.5 15.0 14.9 11.4 20.0 18.3
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours during the year. See
the Technical Note for more details.
2 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
3 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
4 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
5 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
6 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
7 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
8 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any point
from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. 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. In addition, persons whose
ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by
race. Detail will sum to greater than 100 percent because respondents could choose more than one activity. 1.7 percent of
volunteers did not report the type of activity.
Table 6. Volunteers by how they became involved with main organization for which volunteer activities
were performed and selected characteristics, September 2005
Percent distribution of how volunteers became involved with main
organization (1)
Total Was asked by:
Characteristics in volun- Not
September 2005 teers Approach- report-
(thou- ed the Rela- Someone ing how
sands) Total organi- Boss or tive, in the Other became
zation Total employ- friend, organi- Some- in-
(2) er or zation/ one volved
co-work- school else
er
Sex
Total, both sexes.......... 65,357 100.0 40.3 42.8 1.5 14.1 25.9 1.2 14.5 2.4
Men...................... 27,370 100.0 39.1 43.8 1.5 15.4 25.6 1.1 14.5 2.6
Women.................... 37,987 100.0 41.1 42.1 1.4 13.2 26.1 1.3 14.5 2.2
Age
Total, 16 years and
over....................... 65,357 100.0 40.3 42.8 1.5 14.1 25.9 1.2 14.5 2.4
16 to 24 years........... 8,955 100.0 39.6 40.6 1.3 16.5 21.1 1.6 16.7 3.1
16 to 19 years........ 5,000 100.0 40.0 40.0 .5 14.8 23.1 1.4 16.7 3.3
20 to 24 years........ 3,956 100.0 39.0 41.5 2.3 18.7 18.4 1.8 16.7 2.9
25 years and over........ 56,401 100.0 40.4 43.2 1.5 13.7 26.7 1.1 14.2 2.2
25 to 34 years........ 9,881 100.0 39.4 44.9 2.6 15.3 25.5 1.4 13.8 1.9
35 to 44 years........ 14,809 100.0 40.2 43.3 1.5 13.3 27.5 .9 14.5 2.0
45 to 54 years........ 13,826 100.0 40.2 43.7 1.6 12.8 28.0 1.0 13.9 2.2
55 to 64 years........ 9,173 100.0 40.6 42.4 1.2 14.1 25.8 1.1 14.5 2.6
65 years and over..... 8,712 100.0 42.1 41.0 .4 13.7 25.2 1.6 14.2 2.7
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White...................... 56,170 100.0 40.3 43.5 1.5 14.4 26.3 1.2 14.2 2.1
Black or African American.. 5,879 100.0 38.2 39.4 1.5 13.0 23.6 1.3 17.9 4.4
Asian...................... 2,055 100.0 47.0 34.0 1.6 10.8 20.5 .9 14.4 4.6
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity............... 4,511 100.0 40.2 43.7 1.9 14.9 24.7 1.8 13.7 2.4
Educational attainment (3)
Less than a high school
diploma................. 2,837 100.0 40.1 45.0 .7 15.6 26.6 1.8 12.4 2.5
High school graduates, no
college (4)............. 12,594 100.0 39.1 44.3 1.3 15.0 26.7 1.2 14.5 2.1
Less than a bachelor's
degree (5).............. 16,452 100.0 39.6 43.3 1.5 14.1 26.2 1.2 14.9 2.1
College graduates.......... 24,517 100.0 41.7 42.3 1.7 12.6 26.9 0.9 13.7 2.4
Marital status
Single, never married....... 14,445 100.0 39.7 40.4 1.6 16.6 20.4 1.6 16.4 3.5
Married, spouse present..... 40,611 100.0 40.6 43.8 1.3 13.0 28.3 1.0 13.7 1.9
Other marital status (6).... 10,301 100.0 40.1 42.5 1.9 15.1 23.9 1.5 14.9 2.5
Presence of own
children under 18
years (7)
Men:
No own children under 18
years old............. 17,618 100.0 38.8 43.3 1.5 16.8 23.5 1.2 14.8 3.1
With own children under 18
years old............. 9,752 100.0 39.7 44.8 1.4 13.0 29.3 .8 13.9 1.6
Women:
No own children under 18
years old............. 23,439 100.0 42.0 40.3 1.7 14.8 22.3 1.4 15.0 2.7
With own children under 18
years old............. 14,547 100.0 39.7 45.0 1.1 10.5 32.2 1.1 13.8 1.4
Employment status
Civilian labor force........ 46,872 100.0 39.5 43.8 1.9 14.6 26.0 1.1 14.5 2.2
Employed.................. 44,894 100.0 39.6 43.7 2.0 14.5 26.0 1.0 14.5 2.2
Full time (8)........... 35,225 100.0 39.0 44.1 2.3 15.0 25.7 .9 14.6 2.3
Part time (9)........... 9,669 100.0 41.8 42.3 .8 12.7 27.3 1.4 14.0 1.9
Unemployed................ 1,978 100.0 38.6 44.2 .4 15.8 25.7 2.0 15.6 1.6
Not in the labor force..... 18,485 100.0 42.3 40.5 .3 13.0 25.6 1.5 14.5 2.8
1 Main organization is defined as the organization for which the volunteer worked the most hours
during the year. See the Technical Note for more details.
2 Includes persons who did not specify who asked them to volunteer, not shown separately.
3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
4 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
5 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
6 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
7 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces,
nephews, grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
8 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
9 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an
organization at any point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005.
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. In addition, persons whose ethnicity is identified as
Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by ethnicity as well as by race.
Table 7. Main reason for not volunteering last year as reported by non-volunteers who had volunteered in the past
by selected characteristics, September 2005
Percent distribution of main reason for not volunteering
Family Moved, No Not
respon- No lack of longer report-
Characteristics in Total Burnout sibil- Health longer infor- required/ ing
September 2005 (thou- not ities or Lack No a Wasn't mation, not reason
sands) Total enjoy- or medical of one member inter- trans- rele- Other for
(1) able child- prob- time asked of the ested por- vant to not
previ- care lems- organi- tation, current volun-
ously prob- zation or life teer-
lems expense situa- ing
(2) tion
Sex
Total, both sexes......... 37,677 100.0 2.0 9.3 15.2 45.6 2.9 1.9 3.9 3.9 4.9 9.0 1.3
Men..................... 16,640 100.0 2.0 5.4 11.5 50.9 3.5 2.0 4.8 3.8 4.9 9.8 1.3
Women................... 21,037 100.0 2.0 12.4 18.1 41.3 2.5 1.8 3.3 3.9 4.9 8.4 1.4
Age
Total, 16 years and
over.................... 37,677 100.0 2.0 9.3 15.2 45.6 2.9 1.9 3.9 3.9 4.9 9.0 1.3
16 to 24 years.......... 4,569 100.0 .7 4.5 .8 64.5 3.1 2.1 4.5 5.8 2.2 9.6 2.0
16 to 19 years....... 1,345 100.0 1.5 3.2 .7 57.5 4.6 3.4 6.2 7.9 3.2 9.2 2.7
20 to 24 years....... 3,224 100.0 .4 5.1 .8 67.5 2.5 1.6 3.7 4.9 1.8 9.8 1.8
25 years and over....... 33,108 100.0 2.2 10.0 17.2 42.9 2.9 1.8 3.8 3.6 5.3 8.9 1.3
25 to 34 years....... 6,020 100.0 1.1 14.3 2.2 59.0 2.8 1.5 2.6 4.7 1.9 8.4 1.4
35 to 44 years....... 6,236 100.0 1.9 12.7 5.2 57.0 3.3 2.0 2.4 3.2 4.3 7.2 .8
45 to 54 years....... 7,163 100.0 1.8 8.2 9.8 52.4 3.0 2.2 3.1 3.9 6.3 7.7 1.5
55 to 64 years....... 5,992 100.0 3.0 9.5 15.8 40.0 2.9 2.3 5.5 3.3 6.6 9.6 1.5
65 years and over.... 7,696 100.0 3.1 6.5 46.5 12.4 2.5 1.3 5.4 3.1 6.7 11.5 1.1
Race and Hispanic or
Latino ethnicity
White..................... 32,446 100.0 2.0 9.2 15.4 45.5 2.9 1.8 4.0 3.7 5.2 9.1 1.3
Black or African
American............... 3,199 100.0 3.0 10.1 16.9 42.1 3.5 2.1 4.2 4.4 2.9 8.6 2.3
Asian..................... 1,157 100.0 .6 11.4 7.6 57.3 1.5 1.5 1.6 5.1 3.4 8.4 1.7
Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity.............. 2,704 100.0 1.6 11.0 9.8 47.6 4.4 3.2 3.6 5.9 3.9 7.5 1.4
Educational attainment (3)
Less than a high school
diploma................ 2,975 100.0 1.6 9.5 39.7 20.3 3.5 1.9 3.2 4.0 5.3 9.7 1.3
High school graduates, no
college (4)............ 9,677 100.0 2.6 9.4 21.9 35.1 3.4 2.5 4.4 3.3 7.1 9.2 1.1
Less than a bachelor's
degree (5)............. 10,087 100.0 2.5 10.1 15.0 45.0 3.1 1.7 4.2 3.8 4.9 8.5 1.2
College graduates......... 10,369 100.0 1.8 10.6 8.5 54.7 2.1 1.4 3.1 3.6 3.9 8.9 1.4
Marital status
Single, never married..... 8,896 100.0 1.4 5.0 5.4 60.1 3.6 1.8 4.6 4.9 2.4 8.8 2.1
Married, spouse present... 20,010 100.0 1.9 11.9 13.2 45.1 2.8 2.0 3.9 3.2 6.1 8.7 1.2
Other marital status (6).. 8,772 100.0 2.9 7.9 29.7 31.7 2.7 1.6 3.3 4.5 4.6 10.1 .9
Presence of own children
under 18 years (7)
Men:
No own children under 18
years old............ 13,095 100.0 2.2 3.5 13.6 48.2 3.7 1.9 5.5 4.1 5.4 10.4 1.4
With own children under
18 years old......... 3,545 100.0 1.5 12.3 3.8 61.0 2.6 2.4 2.0 2.7 3.1 7.5 1.0
Women:
No own children under 18
years old............ 15,941 100.0 2.3 7.6 22.5 40.0 2.5 1.8 3.7 4.2 5.3 8.8 1.4
With own children under
18 years old......... 5,097 100.0 1.2 27.4 4.4 45.3 2.4 1.8 1.8 3.2 3.7 7.4 1.3
Employment status
Civilian labor force...... 25,258 100.0 1.9 8.7 3.3 59.6 3.0 1.9 3.4 3.6 4.6 8.5 1.4
Employed................ 24,016 100.0 2.0 8.5 3.2 60.7 2.9 1.9 3.3 3.4 4.6 8.3 1.4
Full time (8)......... 19,761 100.0 1.8 7.9 2.5 63.6 2.8 1.9 2.8 3.4 4.5 7.7 1.2
Part time (9)......... 4,254 100.0 2.7 11.7 6.4 47.2 3.4 1.7 5.4 3.6 4.9 11.0 2.0
Unemployed.............. 1,242 100.0 1.1 11.6 4.8 38.7 5.4 3.8 6.0 8.2 5.3 13.8 1.3
Not in the labor force.... 12,420 100.0 2.3 10.6 39.5 17.0 2.7 1.7 5.0 4.4 5.5 10.1 1.3
1 Data refer to persons who did not volunteer during the survey reference period (September 2004-September 2005), but
who had volunteered in the past.
2 Includes the categories lack of information about opportunities, lack of transportation, lack of paid expenses,
moved in the last year, and opportunities don't match interest or skills.
3 Data refer to persons 25 years and over.
4 Includes high school diploma or equivalent.
5 Includes the categories, some college, no degree; and associate degree.
6 Includes divorced, separated, and widowed persons.
7 Own children include sons, daughters, stepchildren, and adopted children. Not included are nieces, nephews,
grandchildren, and other related and unrelated children.
8 Usually work 35 hours or more a week at all jobs.
9 Usually work less than 35 hours a week at all jobs.
NOTE: Data on volunteers relate to persons who performed unpaid volunteer activities for an organization at any
point from September 1, 2004, through the survey period in September 2005. 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. In addition,
persons whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race and, therefore, are classified by
ethnicity as well as by race.