In late 2019 and early 2020 Amárach research carried out, on behalf of Charities Institute Ireland, research into employment trends in the charity sector.
- In November 2019, a qualitative research programme consisting of 12 one to one interviews was undertaken. The interviewees had all worked in the charity sector at a recent stage in their career. Amárach particularly wanted to focus on career insights they gained from working in the sector and how it impacted on them personally and professionally.
- For the second part of the research they undertook a quantitative survey of charity sector CEOs, focusing on the challenges they face in the area of recruitment and retention in a full-employment economy.
A number of findings emerged from this survey, (full findings here). They are:
- There is comprehensive agreement that the public has unrealistic expectations of what Charity sector workers should be paid.
- Remuneration is the key driver for staff deciding to leave the sector, followed by opportunities for career progression and burnout from the role.
- Limited resources and remuneration are viewed as the main barriers to overcome for people moving into the Charity sector.
- Staff with outside sector experience bring commercial knowledge and perspective, as well as innovation and new thinking.
- Creating an environment where staff are supported: Ensuring that staff believe there is a career path open to them within the organisation, that mentoring is available to help develop their potential and that their salaries will reflect their capabilities and experience.
Find a full report on quantitative research here and qualitative here. Read the thoughts of our CEO, Liz Hughes, on the findings here.
