Chapter 4. Activities Outside of School and Work

Indicator 36. Volunteer Work

Approximately 8.3 million 16- to 24-year-olds, or 22 percent of this age group, reported volunteering through or for an organization at least once between September 2008 and September 2009 (U.S. Department of Labor 2010). Differences in the level of volunteering were found by sex and age group. A greater percentage of female 16- to 24-year-olds (25 percent) volunteered than did their male peers (20 percent). In 2009, a greater percentage of 16- to 19-year-old males and females volunteered than did their 20- to 24-year-old counterparts. For instance, 24 percent of 16- to 19-year-old males volunteered, compared with 16 percent of 20- to 24-year-old males. In addition, 28 percent of 16- to 19-year-old females volunteered, compared with 21 percent of 20- to 24-year-old females.

The percentage of 16- to 24-year-olds who reported volunteering in 2009 was not measurably different from the percentage in 2002 (22 percent in both years). However, for each year between 2002 and 2009, females in this age group volunteered at a higher rate than males. In addition, 16- to 19-year-olds volunteered at a higher rate than did 20- to 24-year-olds for each year in this time period, with the exception of 2007.

View Table 36
View Figure 36