Fall of 31% in workforce in voluntary and community sector — report

The social justice sector will have lost 31% of its workforce by the end of next year compared with the level before the recession, according to a report.

The study, conducted for Philanthropy Ireland, also claims there has been “state antipathy towards advocacy” at a time of plummeting funding to the voluntary and community sector by successive governments.

Entitled Scoping of Need in Social Justice Sphere, the study was written by researcher Brian Harvey and outlines how a 35% fall in government funding to the voluntary and community sector has been coupled with three important philanthropic funders leaving the country — with a reduction in funding from €60m to €13m.