During this season, it’s important to understand the broader context of volunteering trends in the United States. To shed light on these trends, I examined the 2021 Census data on Volunteering and Civic Life and the latest report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Volunteering. These sources offer valuable insights into the patterns and motivations behind volunteering efforts.
Male vs Female Volunteering
One significant finding from the data is the difference in volunteer participation between men and women. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2015, only 21.8 percent of men volunteered, while 27.8 percent of women did so. However, using the 2021 Census data, we discovered that of those who reported volunteering in the past year, 57 percent were female and 43 percent were male. A CNN report by Smith found that despite the increasing number of women in the workforce, women’s involvement in volunteering has not decreased, indicating a continued dedication to community engagement among women. Therefore, the gender gap cannot be solely attributed to women’s historical underrepresentation in the workforce.
The Characteristics of Women Volunteers
Furthermore, delving deeper into the data can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the women who volunteer. For example, we could disaggregate the data by age, median income, and marital status. Chart 1 shows the overall percentages of women who reported volunteering over the last year by race. White women represented most of this group of women, followed by Black, Asian, and Native American Women.
Chart 1: Percentage of Women Volunteers by Race
Source: U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement 2021
When we focus on age, the median age of Asian, Black, and White women volunteers is between 40 and 45 years of age. However, the median age drops to 33 for Native American women (see Chart 2).
Chart 2: Median Age of Women Volunteers by Race
Source: U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement 2021
Upon analyzing the total family income for the year, we noticed some noteworthy patterns. Asian women who volunteered had a total household income ranging from $75,000 to $99,000. In contrast, White women volunteers had a slightly lower total household income, ranging from $60,000 to $74,999. Meanwhile, the total household income for Black and Native American women volunteers was considerably lower, ranging from $40,000 to $49,000.
Marital Status paints another unique picture of the characteristics of women who volunteer. According to chart 3, women volunteers from all racial groups are more likely to be married. However, it’s worth noting that Black women volunteers are almost equally likely to have never been married as they are to be married. While women volunteers from each racial group are more likely to be married, Black women volunteers are almost just as likely to have been never married as married.
Chart 3: Marital Status of Women Volunteers by Race
Source: U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement 2021
Finally, analyzing the labor force status of women who volunteer, we found that women volunteers were more likely to be employed than out of the labor force (see Chart 4). This observation reveals another surprising result. Twenty-four percent of Native American women volunteers (not retired or disabled) are out of the labor force. This is the largest percentage for any group of women in this category.
After analyzing the labor force status of women who volunteer, it was found that women volunteers were more likely to be employed than those who were not in the labor force. Interestingly, the data shows that Native American women volunteers (who were not retired or disabled) had the highest percentage (24%) of those who were not in the labor force compared to any other group of women in this category.
Chart 4: Labor Force Status of Women Volunteers by Race
Source: U.S. Census Volunteering and Civic Life Supplement 2021
By examining the gender disparities and other demographic aspects of volunteering, we can work towards creating more inclusive and effective volunteer programs that address the specific needs of our communities. It also acknowledges the unpaid labor women provide.
This Saturday, I will volunteer at The Change “R” Us Toy Drive, which gives free bikes and toys to families in need in the Atlanta area during the holiday season. Are you volunteering this holiday season?
