Suffolk's voluntary workforce has similarities to the national picture, but is made up of smaller workforce numbers in each organisation. Conditions of employment in the region are not conducive to longevity and stability of the voluntary sector workforce. The Suffolk voluntary sector workforce was estimated at 13,850 in 2002 which represents almost 4% of the total workforce of Suffolk. Approximately 24% of organisations in the region rely on just one full-time or part-time staff member.

Local drivers in the workforce are:

• low unemployment
• more demanding applicants
• demographic changes
• increasing impact of Government policy and legislation 

Trends in the voluntary sector in Suffolk include an increase in the number of posts, shortages of suitable applicants, growing professionalisation within larger voluntary groups. Workforce mobility presents both problems and opportunities particularly within the voluntary sector.

Suffolk's voluntary sector has a well-qualified workforce, with 59.5% having GCSE or higher levels of qualification. 16.7% of the workforce with professional qualifications compares favourably with the 15% of managers in the private sector who have management qualifications.

Source: Moore and Witthames 2004