New global estimates reveal that 2.1 billion people volunteer monthly
The latest global estimates challenge the idea that volunteering only happens through organisations and demonstrates the impact of everyday, informal, and unpaid civic action worldwide.
Everyday helpers: What new data reveal about trends in direct volunteering
Information from eight countries reveals direct, person-to-person help to be the world’s most common—and least visible—form of volunteering.
UN Volunteers
International Classification of Activities for Time Use Statistics 2016 (ICATUS 2016)
Work Statistics – 19th ICLS (WORK database)
Concise description of concepts and definitions, uses, sources and limitations for (paid and unpaid) work statistics based on the 19th ICLS standards.
Measuring volunteer work self-learning course
In this self-paced course, also available in French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian, you will learn about the latest international standards on the statistical measurement of volunteer work; and how to apply the ILO survey tools to generate headline indicators on volunteer work. If it is the first time you access the ITC eCampus platform, click on CREATE NEW ACCOUNT and follow the instructions.
Volunteer work measurement guide
The guide provides survey designers with the latest ILO tools and recommendations to produce statistics on volunteer work in line with the current international standards.
Interest in volunteering reached new heights in March and April 2020
In normal times, a billion people volunteer their time and energy each year, providing unpaid help to others. Has the COVID-19 pandemic led to even more volunteering worldwide?
Volunteer work and its links to the labour market experiences of young people
This paper looks at how volunteering can benefit young people at the start of their careers. It uses existing literature and undertakes further longitudinal analysis, including on the effects of volunteering on young people as they seek to access good jobs.
Statistics on volunteer work
This topic page on unpaid work provides access to statistical information including data, methods, publications and more.