The number of jobs in the West Midlands charity and voluntary sector has grown by almost 300 per cent since the same time last year, according to new figures.
Vacancies in the third sector have risen by 277 per cent in the region since March 2012, outperforming all other sectors, according to recruitment agency Reed.
The motoring and automotive industry is the second most buoyant job market in the region, with an increase of 64.5 per cent over the past year, closely followed by leisure and tourism which has experienced sharp growth of 181.2 per cent in the same time period.
Other markets showing encouraging signs include purchasing and estate agency.
Overall employment in the region has grown by 19.49 per cent in the past 12 months, according to the Reed Job Index, the UK’s largest monthly measure of employment opportunities.
Martin Warnes, managing director of Reed.co.uk, said: “The employment market in the West Midlands is significantly contributing to the nationwide increase in charity and voluntary sector jobs, which are up 57.73 per cent on the past year.
“Amid the age of austerity, charity and voluntary work is crucial in supporting vulnerable people and families, and the West Midlands is spearheading growth in the sector.”
The Reed Job Index is compiled by job site www.reed.co.uk, through analysis of job advertisement trends from over 10,000 recruiters throughout the UK tracked against a baseline of 100 established in December 2009.
