A new Statistics Canada study shows a significant dip in volunteering participation from 2018 to 2023. Since it was released, I’ve seen a number of articles pointing to it as an example of what an awful state the volunteering sector is in. Sorry, I don’t buy into what the doomsayers are coming out with. Oh, I’m not blind or naive; there has been a frightening drop in volunteers and volunteering hours over that time period. For instance:
- The overall volunteer rate in Canada fell from 79% to 73%, and total volunteering hours dropped by about 18%, from 5.0 billion to 4.1 billion hours.
- Formal volunteering fell sharply – the rate decreased from 41% to 32%, with hours down 28%, to 1.2 billion.
These figures are scary, but buried in them are hopeful signs that speak to our strength.
A core group of dedicated volunteers stayed steadfast.
Though total volunteer hours dropped, the top 10% of volunteers, those who donate the most time, kept going strong. These individuals still provided over 60% of volunteer hours. The surface may have shifted, but the core held firm.
These volunteers are our community anchors. Their commitment ensures programs survive downturns and bounce back quickly. Take care of them!
It’s a reminder to double-down on engaging diverse groups.
Women, young adults (25–34), and those with less education saw the biggest drops in formal volunteering – up to 42% in hours among 25–34 year‑olds.
That’s concerning, but it gives organisations a clear roadmap for targeted outreach:
- Ask yourself why have certain groups stepped back more than others?
- Listen to what people are saying; what barriers are they facing – time, money, access?
- Then act! Do everything possible, while still serving your mission, to reduce those barriers.
Being intentional in how you approach the challenge can bring the energy back, perhaps even stronger than before. And if you’ve been considering DEI as a “nice to have”, think again!
Informal volunteering still thrives.
While the number of informal volunteers (those helping neighbours, community cleanups, etc.) also dropped, from 74% to 66%, those who continued volunteering in this way picked up the slack. There was little change in hours, showing that we Canadians naturally care for those around us. Even when formal channels are less popular, our instinct to support each other held fast. Hey, Canadians are known for being nice!
We have shown resilience in very challenging times.
Let’s face it, the years 2018–2023 included the COVID pandemic, massive increases in the cost of living, natural disasters, and more; all of which made volunteering difficult or impossible for many people. The fact that volunteering held up as well as it did is nothing short of amazing.
We are stronger than we seem. No matter what the doomsayers declare.
Here’s what you can do to improve your future.
- Rebuild through intentional volunteer strategies:
Organisations can design volunteer opportunities around busy lives. Micro‑volunteering, virtual support, weekend events; these opportunities can interrupt the pattern and bring new participants in or old ones back. - Refocus on young people:
Young adults have shown the greatest decline. Inviting them into leadership roles, providing resume-building opportunities, or issue‑based initiatives could reignite their interest; especially if there is a chance of networking with peers, and a clear path to making social change. - Nurture the informal support base:
People still volunteer in grassroots ways. Organisations can tap into that by supporting neighbourhood hubs, skills‑sharing platforms, or “neighbours helping neighbours” groups. Make it easy for them by providing information on how anyone can help your cause: sharing social media posts, showing up at a rally or run, reducing waste, etc. - Concentrate on equity‑driven outreach:
With women and lower‑education volunteers showing significant declines, organisations can listen to what they need – child‑care during events, flexible hours, mentorship, or recognition. Then act on those needs.
There’s a hopeful path ahead.
If you look closely at the study, you’ll find that there are good reasons for the declines. Hospitals had one of the biggest declines. Obviously – Covid! Sports and recreation groups? Same thing; we couldn’t gather in groups. Decline in youth volunteers? The cost of living had many people, but especially those who were trying to get established, working second jobs rather than volunteering. The decline in women volunteers may have had to do with the fact that women tend to be primary caregivers, and there were a lot of sick people between 2018 and 2023.
If you take into account the challenges that faced Canada, and much of the rest of the world, in those five years, it’s not surprising that there was a drop. But while Canada’s volunteering sector may have stumbled, I don’t agree with the doomsayers who are calling it a nosedive.
The data shows we care deeply – and that we don’t give up. While we can’t ignore this information, or continue with “business as usual”, we don’t need to panic. Using creativity, inclusion, and intention, we can shift this stumble into a big step forward for the next five years.
