Figures obtained from the 2009 Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) revealed that 27,250 persons aged 12 and over (8 per cent of the total population in this age bracket) were doing some form of voluntary work. Just over half these persons were contributing in a voluntary organisation, while 41 per cent were working in other institutions (e.g. the Church). Fifty-two per cent of voluntary workers were females. When analysing the distribution by age, 36 per cent were aged between 25-49 while 32 per cent fell within the 50-64 bracket.

The largest proportion of persons doing voluntary work (32 per cent) were doing so through membership organisations. They were followed by organisations engaged in social work activities (28 per cent) and religious organisations (21 per cent). Forty-six per cent of persons engaged in voluntary work participated actively in the organisation’s activities, while a quarter had an administrative role, with the remainder having a supporting role.

Forty per cent of these workers had been doing voluntary work for more than 10 years, while 32 per cent had been involved for less than 5 years. The most common purpose for doing voluntary work was that people felt it was their moral duty; persons citing this reason comprised 47 per cent of the total. This was followed by 23 per cent of persons who said they did voluntary work to meet new people or for recreation, and another 12 per cent said they did so out of sympathy for the needy. Nineteen per cent of persons also cited some other reason, such as to gain experience.

When asked how many hours they spent volunteering in a typical month, one-third said they spent less than 10 hours in such activities. The survey also revealed that a further 27 per cent spent 10-19 hours, while 25 per cent volunteered for 30 hours or more. Males tended to spend longer hours doing voluntary work than females; the average number of hours per month stood at 26 and 21 hours respectively.

Persons doing informal voluntary work were most likely to spend more time volunteering. Indeed, persons in this category spent an average 40 hours per month volunteering, as opposed to 27 hours for persons working within a voluntary organisation and 20 hours for those volunteering with another entity. Unemployed and retired persons, as expected, spent more time volunteering than persons who were working, though persons whose status was ‘other inactive’, such as housewives and students, spent the least time doing voluntary work.

Of all those aged 12 and over living in private households, 5 per cent were members of a voluntary organisation. Thirty-six per cent of these persons were paying members; 46 per cent of male and 24 per cent of female members.

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