With the economic climate making it difficult for people to find work, volunteering is a way to remain active, develop new skills and practice existing ones. Recent national research has explored how much and why employers value the skills that potential job candidates can obtain through volunteering.

• Nearly half of employers say that job candidates with volunteering experience are more motivated than other candidates and forty-two per cent say job candidates with volunteering experience have a better attitude.

• Nearly forty percent of employers say that candidates with volunteering experience have better people skills, are harder workers and show strong moral values while only one quarter perceive candidates with volunteering experience as no different to candidates with no volunteering experience.

• Three-quarters of employers agree or strongly agree that volunteering can have a positive effect on an individual’s career progression and half felt that volunteer experience is relevant even if it is not linked to what their business does.

• Employers believe that the three most important skills to be gained through volunteering are: team work (56%), building confidence (50%) and communication skills (39%).