OECD Edutoday – Volunteering & Career Success
By OECD Director for Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher
Volunteering is more than just a noble act of giving back—it’s a transformative experience that shapes young people and their futures. My colleague Anthony Mann just published a paper which shows that young people who volunteer in their teenage years enjoy better career prospects, higher earnings, and increased job satisfaction later in life. More than that, volunteering fosters skills, confidence, and connections that open doors to new opportunities. So, if we are looking for ways to enrich the personal and professional journey of young people, supporting them to step into the world of volunteering is one of the best decisions we can make.
The Power of Volunteering in Career Development
Many students participate in volunteering because they want to make a difference in their communities. What they may not realise is that their volunteer work is also a gateway to career success. Studies tracking thousands of young people across countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK, and the USA, reveal a strong connection between teenage volunteering and long-term career benefits.
Volunteering is a unique form of work experience, much like internships or part-time jobs, but far easier to scale. It provides students with firsthand exposure to real-world workplaces, offering opportunities to build professional skills and social networks that can be invaluable in their future careers. Whether working at a local charity, mentoring younger students, or participating in environmental projects, volunteers gain insights that help them navigate their career paths with greater confidence.
Volunteering Leads to Better Career Outcomes
According to a study analyzing data from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), voluntary work is the most common form of workplace exposure among students. The figure below highlights the percentage of students engaged in internships, voluntary work, and part-time employment.
Beyond such participation, longitudinal studies tracking students from adolescence into adulthood show that volunteering has tangible economic benefits. Research from multiple countries demonstrates that young people who volunteer:
- Earn higher wages (with increases of 4-8%) in adulthood.
- Have higher chances of securing employment.
- Are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs.
- Show greater resilience in navigating career transitions.
Why Does Volunteering Have Such a Strong Impact?
The benefits of volunteering can be explained through three key concepts: human capital, social capital, and cultural capital.
- Human Capital: Volunteering develops essential skills such as teamwork, communication, leadership, and problem-solving. These skills are highly valued by employers and can be a major advantage in job applications.
- Social Capital: Volunteers interact with supervisors, colleagues, and community members, expanding their professional networks. These connections often lead to mentorship opportunities, recommendations, and even job offers.
- Cultural Capital: Volunteering fosters adaptability, confidence, and an understanding of different work environments. This cultural awareness makes volunteers more attractive candidates in a diverse and evolving job market.
Who Volunteers? Trends and Insights
Despite its many benefits, volunteering rates vary across different student groups. PISA data reveals key trends in student participation:
- Gender Differences: In most OECD countries, boys are slightly more likely to volunteer than girls.
- Socioeconomic Background: Students from more advantaged backgrounds are 8% more likely to volunteer than their less privileged peers.
- Academic Performance: Lower-performing students tend to engage in volunteering more frequently than top academic performers.
How Schools Can Encourage Volunteering
Given the powerful impact of volunteering on career readiness, schools play a crucial role in encouraging and facilitating student participation. Here are some effective ways schools can support volunteering:
- Make Volunteering Accessible: Schools can actively promote volunteering opportunities through career counseling, student organizations, and digital platforms that connect students with community organizations.
- Recognize Volunteering as Career Development: Schools can integrate volunteering into career guidance programs, emphasizing how volunteer experiences build work-related skills and enhance employability.
- Encourage Reflection and Documentation: Students should be encouraged to track their volunteer experiences, reflect on their learning, and include volunteering achievements in their resumes and college applications.
- Partner with Local Organizations: Schools can build partnerships with nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies to create structured volunteering programs tailored to students’ career interests.
The Future of Volunteering: A Call to Action
Volunteering is a win-win: it benefits both the community and the individual. For young people, it is an unparalleled opportunity to gain real-world experience, develop essential life skills, and increase their chances of long-term career success. With schools and policymakers playing an active role in promoting volunteering, we can empower the next generation to build fulfilling careers while making meaningful contributions to society.
So, if you’re a student, teacher, or policymaker, take action today. Encourage and embrace volunteering—it’s an investment in the future that pays lifelong dividends.
Credit sources from (“https://oecdedutoday.com/volunteering-the-pathway-to-personal-growth-and-career-success/ OECD Education and Skills Today”)