Volunteering is delivering productivity gains worth billions to the UK economy each year, research has found.

The report by Pro Bono Economics (PBE), commissioned by the Royal Voluntary Service, estimates productivity gains worth at least £4.6bn each year, or £4,551 per volunteer.

The report, A pro bono bonus: The impact of volunteering on wages and productivity,
found there are 'significant' benefits from volunteering to the wider economy by boosting productivity in volunteers' day jobs.

A link was also established between volunteering and wage increase, demonstrating the contribution to the UK economy through productivity as reflected in higher wages for those who volunteer, due to the development of new skills.

Analysis of existing evidence suggests volunteering can increase skills, with the outcome being increased confidence.

This is mirrored in the new research, which found that among unemployed people who said they were currently or had volunteered, 38% had gained new skills and a third (32%) had grown in confidence.

Pro Bono Economics suggested that companies providing volunteer opportunities for employees should "think about whether they could present volunteers with some type of formal recognition for their volunteering that can be used as evidence of their achievements".

“The latest available data shows nearly 25 million people in England and Wales alone volunteered formally and informally in the previous 12 months. This represents vast amounts of labour, which being unpaid means it goes unnoticed in official statistics relating to the wider economy. But, as our research shows, volunteering is contributing significantly to the economy through increased productivity," Pro Bono Economics director of research and policy, Dr Jansev Jemal said.

“We need to see greater emphasis on the individual and economic benefits of volunteering from all sides.”

Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, added: "As we have noticed with our own volunteers, volunteering is a very effective means to improve confidence and skills and show commitment to an organisation, helping people boost their employability and prospects," she said.

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