Is it possible to know the size of the multidisciplinary community development workforce at any point around the world? Probably not. We are a fluid workforce embracing so many disciplines and occupations across so many employment sectors. However some countries have had a go at mapping their community development workforce and at future forecasting, to try to gauge the number of practitioners needed and needing to be trained, to address such global and national agendas as the Sustainable Development Goals. Whilst such research can only lead to guesstimates, it is important we do this, as it gives policy makers, funders, employers and the professional training bodies and associations indicators as to current and changing employment trends and demands.
Last month (January 2019) IACD’s partner, The Community Learning and Development Standards Council and Education Scotland commissioned research consultancy ‘Rocket Science’ to carry out research into the community learning and development (CLD) workforce in Scotland, following up on previous surveys, most recently in 2015. Rocket Science have now completed the data collection; this includes survey responses from over a hundred organisations, other stakeholders, around 1,000 practitioners employed in CLD and 150 CLD volunteer practitioners, and the output from 50 interviews involving a cross-section of respondents. The Scottish Government recognised the term ‘community learning and development’ for the sector in 2001, following the lead by the then UK National Training Standards body, PAULO which used the term CLD to encompass all those occupations that focussed upon enhancing learning and development in communities. This is not entirely analogous with IACD’s understanding of community development practice, which also includes a broader range of disciplines including e.g. community architects and community social workers. However the findings will give an indication as to changes in the size of the workforce since the 2015 study.
Rocket Science have started work on a report, which will provide an evidenced estimate for the number of CLD staff in Scotland, and an analysis of the CLD workforce in terms of age, gender, diversity, terms and conditions, level of identification with CLD, qualifications, professional learning, and career opportunities. We shall make the report available to IACD members when it is available.
We are very keen to find out if workforce mapping research has been undertaken recently in other countries. If you know of such studies, please send the links to charliesmcconnell@gmail.com
