Leisure Time in Our Community - Characteristics Of Volunteers: Educational Attainment

The chart shows the percentage of the adult population who volunteer based on educational attainment. Volunteerism among groups has fluctuated greatly over the 1981-1998 period. Overall, the percentage of people volunteering dropped between 1981 and 1987. Volunteering then saw an upswing from 1987 to 1991. 1991 to 1993 saw another downturn, but the popularity of volunteering rose again after 1993.

For the most part, the popularity of volunteering among those with at least a high school diploma follows this overall pattern — with a couple of exceptions. While overall volunteerism was on the rise from 1995 to 1998, volunteerism among high school and college graduates declined. Those with less than a high school diploma tended to follow an opposite pattern. When overall volunteerism was down, these groups saw an increase in volunteerism, and vice versa. The only exceptions were 1985 to 1987 and 1995 to 1998. From 1985 to 1987, both overall volunteerism and volunteerism among those with less than a high school diploma were down. From 1995 to 1998, volunteerism was increasing overall, as was volunteerism among those with less than a high school diploma.

The next panel discusses the age characteristics of volunteers.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau. Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1991, 1994, 1996, 1999, and 2001.