Industry and Volunteering Facts

Queensland Facts

In 2010:

• Volunteering was worth about $13.4 billion to the Queensland economy.

• Volunteers provided a volume of work equivalent to 299 000 jobs which is an equivalent to 14.7 percent of paid number of people employed.

• 72% of Queensland volunteers are female.

• 31% of Queensland volunteers are 18 – 24 years old.  

• 36% of older people aged 55 – 64 yrs volunteered.

• 27% of people aged 65 yrs and over volunteered.

Australia Volunteer Facts

• Australia currently has 5.2 million people volunteering, this is 35% of its population over the age of 18 volunteering.

• Volunteering was worth $45 billion to the Australian economy.

• Volunteers contributed around 713 million hours to the community doing many different activities and in organizations and groups with a diverse range of interests

• National Volunteer Week was first held in 1989

• Volunteering continues to grow – in 1995 24% of the population volunteered, in 2000 32% and 2006 35%

• Strongest representative age group is 35-44 year olds

• 50% of volunteers do so because they believe they are helping others

•  Volunteer rate is higher outside of capital cities (32% to 38%)
   

"Today it is estimated that around 1 in 4 people will volunteer in their lifetime."