JUNE 2013

OFFICE OF RESEARCH & EVALUATION

CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteering as a 

Pathway to Employment

The economic downturn that 

has plagued the United States 

economy over the last halfdecade has increased the need 

for pathways to employment 

for the millions of Americans 

struggling to find work. 

Government leaders, nonprofits, 

and news media have long 

provided anecdotal evidence 

that volunteering can increase 

employment prospects by 

helping job-seekers learn new 

skills, expand their networks, 

and take on leadership roles. 

Despite this, there has been 

little quantitative research 

to date that has established 

an association between 

volunteering and finding a job.

The Research & Evaluation Office within the Corporation for National and 

Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for service and volunteering, took 

on the challenge to better understand the relationship between volunteering and 

employment. The resulting report, “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment: 

Does Volunteering Increase Odds of Finding a Job for the Out of Work?”

provides the most compelling empirical research to date establishing an 

association between volunteering and employment in the United States. 
Key Findings

•	 Volunteers have a 27 percent higher odds of finding a job after

being out of work than non-volunteers

•	 Volunteers without a high school diploma have a 51 percent

higher odds of finding employment

•	 Volunteers living in rural areas have a 55 percent higher odds

of finding employment

CNCS also found that volunteering is associated with an 

increased likelihood of finding employment for all volunteers 

regardless of a person’s gender, age, ethnicity, geographical area, 

or the job market conditions. 

Percent Change in Odds of Employment 

Associated With Volunteering

Main Effect Effect on: No HS diploma Rural 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Percent Change in Odds

27%

51% 55%

Note: The percent change in odds was calculated by combining log-odds coefficient 

from the main effect with the coefficient from the interaction effect, and then 

exponentiating the results. 

How Volunteering Could Help Individuals Find Employment

Prior research has shown that volunteering can increase a person’s social connections (social capital) and skill sets (human capital), 

two factors that have been shown to be positively related to employment outcomes. In addition, some workers may see volunteering as a 

possible entry route into an organization where they would like to work. Our results also suggest that individuals with limited skills or social 

connections – particularly those without a high school education - may see an extra benefit to volunteering, helping to level the playing field.

Volunteering Employment

Increased Skills and Experience

Increased Social Connections
Implications

“The evidence is accumulating that service 

and civic engagement boost employment. 

This new study...makes the strongest case 

so far...and shows that those who volunteer 

are more likely to get a job after being 

out of work. For individuals, the message 

is clear: if you are looking for work, get 

experience and contacts by volunteering. 

For policymakers, the message is to support 

organizations that enlist volunteers. That 

will pay off for the people who serve as well 

as for those they help.”

- PROFESSOR PETER LEVINE, TUFTS UNIVERSITY

•	 For the Out of Work: Consider volunteering while looking for 

work to build skills and personal networks. Visit Serve.gov to find 

volunteer opportunities in your area.

•	 For Nonprofits: Target those who have the most to gain by 

volunteering – out of work individuals, particularly people 

without a high school degree or people living in rural areas. 

Volunteer recruitment may then have two purposeful outcomes: 

improvements to communities and better employment outcomes 

for community members. CNCS offers volunteer recruitment 

and management resources at NationalService.gov/Build-YourCapacity. 

•	 For Policymakers: Consider volunteering as one of several 

strategies to increase employment. The promotion of volunteerism 

may be considered an additional pathway for employment 

opportunities for those out of work. Learn more about how CNCS 

is building volunteering opportunities in local communities at 

NationalService.gov. 

CNCS Provides Pathways to Employment Opportunities

As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS provides vital leadership, support, and funding to individuals and organizations. 

CNCS works with its partners, workforce agencies, and nonprofit organizations across the country to promote service and volunteering to 

positively impact communities, build capacity, and also help Americans acquire the skills, education, and training they need for employment. 

•	 	CNCS	and	our	grantees	help	disconnected	youth,	new	Americans,	 •	 	National	Service	recruits	and	manages	more	than	4.7	million	

veterans, military families, seniors, people with disabilities, and community volunteers through AmeriCorps and Days of Service to 

others acquire the skills, education, and training they need for multiply the impact of national service participants and strengthen 

employment. nonprofit and faith-based organizations. 
To read the full report and methodology, visit NationalService.gov.

For media inquiries, contact pressoffice@cns.gov. 

Methodology

This report utilized data from the Current Population Survey September Volunteering 

Supplement, sponsored jointly by CNCS, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Bureau of 

Labor Statistics. The data span a 10-year period from 2002-2012, and the nationally 

representative sample includes individuals 16 years or older who were out of work and 

interested in working. The data were analyzed to answer two questions: 

•	 	Is	volunteering	associated	with	an	 •	 	If	so,	does	the	relationship	between	

increased likelihood of employment for volunteering and employment vary by 

individuals out of work? demographic characteristics, labor 

market conditions, and community-level 

factors?

By examining respondents’ volunteer and employment status over two years, statistical 

analyses measured the association between volunteering and employment independent of 

other factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, labor market conditions, and geographic area. 

The mission of CNCS is to improve lives, strengthen communities, 

and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. 

To find opportunities to serve in your area, visit Serve.gov.